Get closer to the action with wild bird feeds and special events
Every year as the seasons change and the leaves turn red and yellow, animals are saving up their strength for one of the greatest spectacles of the natural world: migration. The colourful burst of autumn signals the start of these journeys, with some birds covering thousands of miles in search of snow-free climates and food.
WWT Welney Wetland Centre provides the prefect sheltered conditions for birds to find winter sanctuary, so over the next few months, it will become an ‘avian airport’, welcoming tens of thousands of these migrants from the Arctic. At the same time, birds that arrived in spring to raise their young are heading south to overwinter in insect-rich Africa.
And this changing of the seasons doesn’t just affect birds, as dragonflies, bats, bees, butterflies and mammals are all trying to find the ideal conditions or hibernation spots before the cold sets in.
With WWT Welney Wetland Centre offering stunning scenery, breathtaking views, close encounters and wild bird feeds, you get a front row seat at our reserve:
Watch a commentated, wild swan feed from the heated observatory at Welney (link here) followed by thousands of Whooper swans and Bewick’s swans flying in to the reserve at dusk (Daily from Thursday 23 October – Sunday 8 March).
Whether you’re seeing these birds fly in or out, it’s a rare glimpse into the mystery of migration, as so much is still unknown; like how birds know when to migrate, how they find their way and how they communicate with each other while flying thousands of miles. But the result is nonetheless spectacular. Anyone who has ever seen the sky filled with birds flying in formation, or coming in to land in their hundreds or thousands will never forget the sight.
Sir David Attenborough, President of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) said: ‘’Migration is one of the most spectacular phenomenona of the natural world. I’ve dedicated many hours to studying it and making films about it. As well as heralding the change of the seasons, we can learn a great deal about our planet through studying birds. WWT Wetland Centres are great places to learn about migration as they attract birds by the tens of thousands in Winter – it’s a breathtaking sight if you’re lucky enough to witness it.’’
Come and experience the wonders of migration at your local WWT Wetland Centre. Learn why animals migrate, what we know about their amazing journeys and what’s still to discover, but above all just enjoy the unforgettable sights and sounds of nature on the move.