Great Bustard

[doubleclix]

I came across this article this morning. Has anyone ever seen one of these?

BBC News - Four great bustard chicks born on Salisbury Plain

They look really good, and they're the worlds largest flying bird

"An adult great bustard can be up to a metre (3ft) tall and weigh up to 44lb (20 kg). Its wingspan can reach nearly eight feet (2.4m)"

Hopefully the chicks will survive and in a few years there will be a large number circling over head!

[The Woodman]

Despite being large birds they have very good camouflage - can you see them?

[doubleclix]

I see what you mean! Apparently a fox caught one that hatched last year, but it was only young.

[rlchew]

Hopefully another successful comeback story for the UK.

I have never seen GB's in the UK but I was fortunate to see a small group in Aragon in northern Spain last autumn. They are maginificent birds.

Richard

[doubleclix]

Originally Posted by rlchew

Hopefully another successful comeback story for the UK.

Fingers crossed!!! I'd love to see them fly above in large flocks! Do they migrate?

[aeshna5]

I did see one of these released birds a couple of winters back when I was at Slimbridge + I saw it flying along the Severn- a magnificent sight. Earlier it had been in one of the fields at the centre.

I've also watched them in Spain- great birds!

[montagu]

Originally Posted by doubleclix

I see what you mean! Apparently a fox caught one that hatched last year, but it was only young.

Foxes have accounted for a large number of the birds that have been released by the project so far. About 16 have survived to maturity.

There seems to be no news about whether any chicks, and how many, have hatched or survived this year.

[thewoose]

I saw about a dozen of them standing together on Salisbury Plain last April - took me a while to work out what they were! They really are massive. Didn't see any flying though.

[montagu]

I've seen one in flight- very impressive and that was just a female. Quite slow wingbeats.