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Bittern boom in East Anglian Fens | Bittern boom in East Anglian Fens |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The numbers of one of Britain's rarest birds, the bittern, have increased in the East Anglian Fens, the RSPB has revealed. | |
Newly-created habitats are helping the bittern, known for its "booming" call, recover from losing breeding grounds. | Newly-created habitats are helping the bittern, known for its "booming" call, recover from losing breeding grounds. |
Pairs have been recorded nesting in newly-created reedbeds, as conservationists attempt to prevent loss of habitat for the birds. | |
The bird is nesting in more sites in the UK than in any year since 1990. | |
A privately-owned wetland site converted from farmland in Cambridgeshire has evidence of four nests involving three different breeding females, the RSPB said. | A privately-owned wetland site converted from farmland in Cambridgeshire has evidence of four nests involving three different breeding females, the RSPB said. |
Climate change | |
The bittern was extinct in Britain between 1886 and 1911. In the 1990s research found reedbeds were drying out, threatening their survival once again. | The bittern was extinct in Britain between 1886 and 1911. In the 1990s research found reedbeds were drying out, threatening their survival once again. |
But 10 years after the UK's bittern population hit a new low of just eleven males in 1997, the RSPB and Natural England have recorded at least 51 male birds across 33 sites this year. | But 10 years after the UK's bittern population hit a new low of just eleven males in 1997, the RSPB and Natural England have recorded at least 51 male birds across 33 sites this year. |
The numbers are up from last year's 44 male bitterns and only four behind the recent record of 55 in 2004. | The numbers are up from last year's 44 male bitterns and only four behind the recent record of 55 in 2004. |
The news that they are nesting in man-made reedbeds is seen as a positive sign as many of their traditional natural habitats are threatened by rising sea levels, the RSPB said. | The news that they are nesting in man-made reedbeds is seen as a positive sign as many of their traditional natural habitats are threatened by rising sea levels, the RSPB said. |
Dr Mark Avery, conservation director of the RSPB, said: "The spread of bitterns into newly-created reedbeds is a testament to all those involved with habitat creation, especially in the East Anglian Fens. | Dr Mark Avery, conservation director of the RSPB, said: "The spread of bitterns into newly-created reedbeds is a testament to all those involved with habitat creation, especially in the East Anglian Fens. |
"Encouraging bitterns to nest in newly created sites away from the coast helps to buffer these sensitive birds against the impacts of climate change." | |