The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has released a must-see film of the pink-footed geese and the Wyre-Lune sanctuary on Morecambe Bay. The film documents the love of wildfowlers’ for wild birds and wild places and their determination to conserve pink-footed geese, one of the main quarry species on Morecambe Bay.
The Morecambe Bay Wildfowlers’ Association established the sanctuary between the estuaries of the rivers Wyre and Lune in 1963. The site is now of national importance and benefits many species. No shooting is allowed within the sanctuary. Pink-footed geese numbers have massively increased since the 1960s with 85% of the world population wintering in the United Kingdom and tens of thousands of geese visiting Morecambe Bay.
Mike Sherman, the vice-Chairman of BASC and a wildfowler said; “This film captures the iconic beauty of tidal marshes and wildfowl. I urge anyone with an interest in wild birds and places to see it. Wildfowlers have always been active conservationists. Their commitment to the birds and their habitats goes beyond self-interest to a genuine concern that the species and their environment should flourish.”
Mark Greenhough, BASC Wildfowling Officer said; “The film demonstrates the conservation work wildfowlers deliver for the benefit of geese and other wildlife. This is a message we are taking to government, its agencies and to conservation bodies. Working hand in hand with wildfowling clubs will deliver enormous benefits to our wildlife and protected areas.”