Species Protection (Volunteer Site Ranger, Pagham Harbour & Medmerry, West Sussex)

We are looking for volunteer rangers to help patrol our 1000ha-plus reserves at Pagham Harbour and Medmerry, encouraging coastal users to share the reserve appropriately with our beach nesting and over-wintering birds. Our aim is to help people enjoy the Pagham Harbour Medmerry and West Hayling nature reserves without disturbing the species that breed and overwinter here.

We will also be partnering with the National Trust at East Head Spit, a nature reserve next to the very popular West Wittering Beach, and the Hayling Island Ringed Plover Project at Hayling Golf Course, and so we will be needing volunteers to help patrol these very busy sites over the breeding season to protect their vulnerable nesting ringed plovers.

Although we’re recruiting for the breeding season, this is an important role all year round. In the summer, our beach nesting birds arrive (including the second rarest nesting sea bird, the little tern and UK red listed ringed plovers). Just like us, shorebirds love spending time on the beach in summer, but they use the beach to nest and raise their chicks. They create their nests directly on the sand and shingle, incubate their eggs and raise chicks along our beaches.

And in the winter, thousands of ducks, geese and wading birds (including the protected dark bellied brent goose) fly to the area from as far as the Siberian Arctic. They come here to feast on the abundant marine worms, shellfish and plants found in the diverse habitat on the reserves.

Due to development and population increases along the coast, more recreational activities are occurring that can cause disturbance to our birds with detrimental effects. These birds need our help, and we want to make sure they get the best possible chance of survival. This is where you come in!

You will be able to choose where you patrol when you sign up to the rota, either splitting your time between a variety of nesting sites, or focusing on one site that is of particular interest or local to you.

Primary tasks would include:

• Spending your days out on our expansive sites, being additional eyes on the ground, talking to our visitors and watching the wildlife.
• Helping to protect the network of shorebird nesting sites across the Manhood Peninsula, Chichester and Langstone Harbours by engaging with site visitors to reduce disturbance by encouraging them to staying away from nesting areas, undertake watersports activities in an environmentally conscious way and keeping dogs under control in sensitive locations.
• Locating and monitoring nests from a distance using telescopes to keep up to date information on number of nests and chicks.
• To enhance the enjoyment of Pagham, Medmerry and West Hayling nature reserves as well as other local coastal sites for all visitors, from all user groups, of all ages and all levels of experience/knowledge of nature, using positive face-to-face engagement with visitors.
• Keeping a look out for bird disturbance and making people aware about its impact on the birds, promoting behaviour change and how everyone can do their bit to protect them.
• Disturbance and visitor engagement data recording and collection.
• Reporting any incidents or issues on site to staff.
• Where appropriate and safe, to deal with any misuse of the site and provide guidance in proper use to visitors with the support of RSPB and partner staff.
• Engaging with the public, helping with bird identification, directions, guidance, where to go, what to see and encouraging the sharing of information.
• Reconnecting people with nature and helping to update our bird sightings log to share with visitors.

Secondary tasks could include:

• Encouraging visitors to offer feedback – we will be running a visitor feedback survey at the start and end of the breeding season.
• Making various checks on parts of the reserve (for example making sure our miles of fencing are intact).
• Enjoying a spot of bird watching and fresh air yourself!
• Assisting the visitor team in developing and delivering visitor activities, guided walks and events.
• Helping to develop interpretation around the reserve and ensuring that it is always relevant and in good condition, as well as making suggestions for placement and content to achieve optimum impact.
• Assisting with keeping the site tidy by helping with litter picking.
• Opportunity to assist at other offsite events such as summer fairs.
• Photography of breeding birds and nest sites for use on signage o keep visitors informed on the breeding season when you are not on patrol.

We will provide induction and training before starting and, of course, provide you with ongoing support. NOTE: If this specific role of public engagement does not suit you currently, we encourage you to contact us if you have other skills in practical conservation, community engagement, organisation and administration. You could still play an essential role in supporting the ranger team.

What's in it for you?

• Are you keen to improve coastal wildlife knowledge whilst gaining a sense of achievement by helping to give our winter and summer birds a home?
• Do you want a chance to enjoy our amazing wildlife reserves from behind the scenes?
• Do you want the opportunity to develop skills?
• Would you like to make a genuine contribution to wildlife conservation?

Then this could be the role for you!