We all love seeing birds and other wildlife whilst we SUP. Luckily time on the water allows us to be closer to nature on a day to day basis. But do you know how to protect our feathered friends? Let’s find out!
BSUPA have teamed up with the RSPB to promote a code of conduct to enjoy bird life found in our water areas without adversely impacting breading areas or negatively affecting the bird life in other ways.
SUP life and Bird life
Around our coastline there is a lot of amazing wildlife. Our coastal cliffs, beaches and estuaries are home to millions of birds all year round as well as important seal colonies. And as more and more SUP enthusiasts hit the water this summer, there is no better time than right now to check the following simple steps to make sure we can all carefully enjoy them:
- Be alert and look out for wildlife on land and in the water.
- Paddle at a safe distance. If birds or animals change their behaviour you are too close. Alarm behaviour can include birds calling out, trying to attract your attention or ‘bobbing’ up and down.
- Don’t linger if you think it may disturb or displace wildlife.
- Find out about the area before you go. Remember that wildlife may feel more threatened by humans in areas not normally visited by people.
- Be aware of any local restrictions and bylaws around sensitive wildlife sites and look out for any signage asking you to give wildlife space.
- Keep to designated launching points and paths. Wildlife learns to avoid busy areas.
- Float your paddle board and lift it out when landing, so as not to cause damage when launching or landing along natural banks or beaches.
- Please take your litter home. Some paddle boarders even litter pick as they go to help protect our environment even more!
Our well being is often strongly linked to time out in nature so pass on these points to your friends to help us enjoy these important interactions with nature whilst making sure we aren’t disturbing the habitats that make it so special.
Enjoy the water this summer.
The Team