Who could honestly not love kingfisher birds? They are beautiful to look at and beautiful to learn about. This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile with a gorgeous metallic blue upper plumage and an orange under plumage, with a long thin bill ideal for plucking fish out the water and insects out
the air. Of course it’s not common to see them in the upper area of the village because kingfisher’s live near water sources only. But you don’t have to wonder to far to be able
to spot one-swaffham Bulbeck fen, reach fen and the appropriately named kingfisher fen on the other side of Burwell are all great places to go kingfisher watching.
The kingfisher we know and love in our part of the world is known as the common kingfisher which I think is a ironic really since the common kingfisher was declining rapidly in numbers in the UK until recently- However even more recent data has shown that they might be making a comeback. Kingfishers are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act- It is illegal to take, kill or injure a kingfisher or its nest, eggs or young, or to intentionally disturb the birds during breeding season. King fisher’s can be found in area’s around lakes and rivers and any slow moving bodies of water. They seem the ideal hunter, flying rapidly, eying prey closely and exacting the right moment for capturing their target with immense precision. Those rivers with overhanging branches make for ideal perches upon which kingfishers may begin their hunt for prey. Kingfishers are resident all year round in the UK, although they may exhibit some short migratory behavior, for instance over harsh winters they may migrate near to coastal areas, but rarely further than that.
Their favorite food is small river fish like sticklebacks and river shrimp which they pluck out of the shallows using their lovely fine bill. They watch from a convenient perch for the fry of coarse fish like roach and perch, before they crash dive for their dinner. And did you know that A kingfisher was said to be the first bird to fly from Noah’s ark after the deluge, supposedly received the orange of the setting sun on its breast and
the blue of the sky on its back. It was considered a symbol of peace, promising prosperity and love.
But it’s no easy ride for kingfishers, they need to consume their own body weight in fish
each day to avoid starving to death which sadly is one of the most common causes of kingfishers dying.
Kingfishers do not build a nest, instead, they nest inside a tunnel, which is typically around 30-90cm in length, located next to a river bank of slow-moving water. Both males and females take turns at incubating the eggs, and feeding is shared each year. They can have around 6 to 7 eggs in each clutch, however sadly only two or three may make it to adulthood. The early days for fledged juveniles are more hazardous; during its first dives into the water, about four days after leaving the nest, a fledgling
may become waterlogged and drown. Many young will not have learned to fish by the time they are driven out of their parents' territory, and only about half survive more than a week or two. Most kingfisher’s die of cold or lack of food, and a severe winter can kill a high percentage of the birds.
Summer floods can destroy nests or make fishing difficult, resulting in starvation of the brood.
But there is some good news for these stunning birds- Efforts are underway to clean up
waterways and preserve, or make anew, places for these birds to live. This is in part thanks to special grants being made available, and farmers returning land to its former use. And in Norfolk and the Cambridgeshire fens where we are, kingfishers are also on the increase, thanks to a helping hand with building their burrows from the Middle Level Commissioners, who oversee the network of drains and rivers which prevent the Fens from flooding. Engineers have bored holes through the pilings and headwalls which reinforce banks and sluices, to give the tiny feathered fisherfolk a head start getting on the housing ladder.
So the next time you go for a walk, why not have a stroll down to the river and try to
spot a kingfisher grooving about in all their techno color glory.
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