Nature Watch, with Ron Freethy

I HAVE always regarded Martin Mere as a place for one of the best winter bird watches in North West England.

This week I found out that it was also a smashing spot to study wildlife in summer. My first sighting was of a number of red breasted geese which are present in the wildfowl collection.

In the wild, geese are among the most spectacular migrants. They are able to fly at over 30mph, depending upon the wind, and they can reach altitudes of more than 20,000 feet. How can they do this without oxygen?

The answer is that a bird's breathing system is nothing at all like ours. They do not have a diaphragm to pump air in and out of their lungs like we do. Instead they have small lungs connected to a number of air sacs, the precise number depending upon the species.

The also have hollow bones which allow them to store even more air. The hollow bones are also light and enable them to fly easily.

Birds rely on a combination of power and low weight to keep them flying.

It is not only exotic birds which can be seen at Martin Mere and close to a pond I found a clutch of moorhen eggs.

The Wildfowl and Wetland Trust has the co-operation of North West Water and their joint expertise has produced a wonderful display of how to study the wildlife of a pond.

Why not plan a summer visit and see what wonders there are on offer?

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.