The RSPB is celebrating 30 years of its boat trips showing people birds on the Exe Estuary in Devon.
The charity started their ‘Avocet Cruises’ in 1981 and was one the first to offer regular wildlife cruises. They are now part of the RSPB’s hugely popular Date with Nature projects that aim to get people outdoors and watching wildlife across the UK.
Peter Exley, Regional Public Affairs Manager for the RSPB said: ‘When the cruises first started it wasn’t clear if there would be any demand as it was such a novel idea. The first boat we used was the Devon Princess and the very first cruise sold out almost immediately. We were so please we put on a further three.
Since then we’ve carried between 35-40,000 passengers on the Exe”
Reflecting on other changes over the past 30 years Peter added: “Since we started the Avocet Cruises the number of wintering avocets in the UK has risen from less than a thousand to just short of 3400. This gives an impression of how successfully these birds have recovered over the past thirty years.
“And in 1981 the RSPB had a membership of 300,000, and managed 78 nature reserves - today our membership is nearly 1.1 million and we manage 207 nature reserves. This success is we feel in no small part due to the growing popularity of wildlife encouraged through events such as the cruises.”
RSPB Avocet Cruises depart from two locations on the estuary: Topsham and Starcross and passengers are able to enjoy unrivalled views of up to 40 species of bird including avocets, black-tailed godwits, brent geese, little egrets, curlews, lapwings and oystercatchers.
As well as offering people the chance to enjoy an amazing wildlife spectacle, the cruises have also provided a boost to the local economy.
Three separate boat operators, two of which offer RSPB avocet cruises, now take people out on the river to see birds. The cruises also raise valuable funds to support the charity’s work in the South West.
Sarah Webb, who has organised this year’s cruises for the RSPB said: ‘Over the last 30 years we have worked to make these events accessible for as wide a range of people as possible - you don’t have to know your curlew from your dark-bellied brent goose to come have a good time and to enjoy the fantastic scenery and wildlife.’
The cruises start on 10 November 2011 and run regularly to 25 February 2012. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the cruises the RSPB has also organised three special cruises in addition to its normal programme. On Sunday 20 November, the RSPB is inviting people to join a dawn cruise and watch the estuary wake up. Depart Topsham 6.45am and finish with a breakfast at the Route 2 Café in Topsham. On Sunday 27 November there is a family cruise to discover the special wildlife on the Exe with commentary from RSPB Wildlife Explorers club president and TV wildlife expert, Nick Baker. And on Sunday 22 January 2012 there will be a special photography cruise where you can join experts for a lesson in how to get the most from your compact camera whilst getting some great close up views of avocets and other waders and wildfowl.
On all the cruises there will be a specially produced limited edition Avocet Cruise pin badge available on board.
Avocet Cruises are one of the RSPB’s Date with Nature projects that aim to enable people to get closer to some of the most exciting wildlife in Britain. To book a place on a cruise contact the RSPB on 01392 432 691 and for details visit https://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/146928-avocet-cruises
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