Cranes - Wonderful news!

[Madelinew]

BBC NEWS | England | Birds breed again after 400 years

This is fantastic news - I've often bemoaned the fact that there are cranes breeding just across the water from us on the continent yet they don't in the UK. How can we encourage storks to follow? :-)

[psyche]

I read that this morning too, and it brightened this gloomy day!

[Gill Catton]

Yes fantastic, I hope the powers that be will wait for this natural recolonisation to continue before throwing money at a re-introduction scheme. It would be nice to let the birds show us when we've got the habitat management just right for them I think...

I notice the birds have timed it very well to coincide with the opening of the new visitors centre!! I wonder if someone paid them!!

[andy68]

It is great news that they're spreading their range, but what the BBC article doesn't mention (several other news services do) is that they've actually been breeding in the Norfolk Broads since 1979! It's possible that this new breeding pair originates from the small colony there, although they could equally be wanderers from the Continent.

Andy

[Madelinew]

Originally Posted by andy68

they've actually been breeding in the Norfolk Broads since 1979! It's possible that this new breeding pair originates from the small colony there
Andy

haha - any chance they're hiding some storks there too Andy?!

[thunder]

Originally Posted by andy68

It is great news that they're spreading their range, but what the BBC article doesn't mention (several other news services do) is that they've actually been breeding in the Norfolk Broads since 1979! It's possible that this new breeding pair originates from the small colony there, although they could equally be wanderers from the Continent.

Andy

Yes BBC Radio Norfolk said they were breeding in "Norfolk and Suffolk" but I didn't hear any further details.

henrya

[Susieanna]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Yes fantastic, I hope the powers that be will wait for this natural recolonisation to continue before throwing money at a re-introduction scheme. It would be nice to let the birds show us when we've got the habitat management just right for them I think...

Hmm I'm not sure thats going to happen. Although I don't believe there have been any releases yet I think the RSPB/WWT/Pensthorpe re-introduction scheme is already well in progress. Still its lovely to see them doing it for themselves, supose it gives the scheme some validity.

The Great Crane Project

[Fourwings]

Its great news, I have great memories of seeing them flying into roost at Stubb's Mill on the edge of Hickling Broad, Norfolk back in January this year, pure magic

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Susieanna

Hmm I'm not sure thats going to happen. Although I don't believe there have been any releases yet I think the RSPB/WWT/Pensthorpe re-introduction scheme is already well in progress. Still its lovely to see them doing it for themselves, supose it gives the scheme some validity.

The Great Crane Project

yes I was reading about it recently, I think its a bit of a shame that we seem to refuse to wait for natural recolonisation. For example, there has been so much Otter reintroduction (and often thoughtless introduction resulting in the immediate death of otters) that there is no way to measure natural recolonisation......

but that's only my personal opinion I can also see the joy in watching the animals re-introduced over historical ranges thrive

[Madelinew]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Its great news, I have great memories of seeing them flying into roost at Stubb's Mill on the edge of Hickling Broad, Norfolk back in January this year, pure magic

I'll be going up there this summer and again in mid-September. My mother lives close to Hickling Broad - what are my chances of spotting them?