'Nofence' collars trialled on RSPB reserve

The RSPB is trialling the use of Nofence collars, which are designed to help grazing livestock create habitat for ground-nesting birds.

Geltsdale RSPB reserve in Cumbria is testing the use of the collars, which alert sheep when they leave designated areas. This keeps them grazing within "invisible" fences, where the animals can create clear spaces for ground-nesting birds.

The charity said it was "encouraging" to see birds already nesting in areas where the collared sheep had been grazing.

Northern Lapwing has already benefitted from the Nofence collar trial at Geltsdale (Alan Jack).

Grazing for ground-nesters

The flock of 22 Herdwick sheep is owned by Ian Bell, a farmer at Tarnhouse Farm, who said he wanted to manage the land to create a "mosaic of habitats" for wildlife.

He said: "Herdwicks are notorious escape artists and certain individuals have a complete disregard for field boundaries. However, we have managed to train the sheep to go exactly where we want them to. The technology appears to be better than a stone wall."

Nofence collars worked by triggering an "electric non-harmful pulse" when the sheep left their designated area, the RSPB said.

Waders return

The charity said the device also emitted an audio warning before the shock, and the animals soon learned to listen to the cue.

The sheep began grazing a Nofence area in February and have now left the site. Eurasian Curlew, Northern Lapwings and Eurasian Skylarks have since been seen nesting in the space created.