Tweet tweet – bird island naming competition now open!
Calling all bird lovers in Portsmouth: The North Portsea Coastal Scheme has built an offshore, high tide roosting site for overwintering birds near Eastern Road – and it needs a name!
Enter the competition here
Currently known as ‘bird island’, the site was included as one of the scheme’s environmental initiatives to ensure the birds can roost undisturbed but still be seen from a distance by keen ‘twitchers’.
The team constructed the island out of materials taken from the old sea wall at Eastern Road before covering it with rock and shingle to mimic an organically occurring site.
Project manager for the North Portsea Coastal Scheme, Caroline Timlett said:
“Langstone Harbour ranks within the top 10 most important places for birds in the UK so this bird island is a very important initiative in our coastal defence scheme.
“We hope to come up with a name to reflect the local area so are asking Portsmouth residents to get creative. We’d love to see you draw inspiration from the environment around Langstone Harbour, the history of Portsmouth or personal experience.”
Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment Cllr Kimberly Barrett said: “Every year many birds come to Portsmouth to spend the winter at the harbour, including up to six percent of the world population of Brent Geese.
“This island will be vital in providing birds with an undisturbed place to roost during the winter months when the tide covers their feeding grounds.
‘I’m very pleased to see the North Portsea Coastal Scheme acknowledging Langstone Harbour as one of the most important coastal zones in the UK by protecting the wildlife here.”
A judging panel will choose the winning name. Entries are open to all Portsmouth residents and those with a link to Portsmouth (under 16s with their parents’ permission) until 12 August 2023. Visit Coastal defence management – Portsmouth City Council or email npcs@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to enter.
Construction for the sea defence work at Langstone Harbour is limited to the period between April and September due to the presence of overwintering birds in the harbour.
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