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The RSPB has welcomed news of the first
breeding great bustards in Great Britain for 175 years.
The Great Bustard Group (GBG) has been releasing birds on
Salisbury Plain each year since around 2004, but did not
expect nesting to take place until 2008, as males have to
reach four or five years old before they can breed. Chicks
are raised in Russia from eggs rescued from nests
destroyed by cultivation, but then released in the
Wiltshire countryside.
RSPB chalk grassland manager Tracé Williams said: 'This is
really exciting news. The Great Bustard Group are to be
congratulated on their achievements so far and we hope
that this will be the first of many bustards breeding here
in the future.'
GBG made the announcement today (Monday 23 July) some time
after the birds' nest was discovered, in order to minimise
the risk of eggs being stolen or disturbance. Sadly, the
great bustards' breeding attempt was not successful. The
eggs were incubated by a female bird, but subsequently
abandoned. After examination, the eggs were found to be
infertile. |
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The RSPB is working closely with
farmers and landowners in the area to advise on habitat
creation and management to support the species, along
with other farmland birds.
Great bustards need a mixture of chalk grassland, with
lots of insects in summer, and farmland providing cereal
food in the winter. They particularly favour the areas
being managed for stone-curlews, a secretive migrant
from southern Europe and Asia, which breeds in the area
every year.
Ms Williams added: 'Three female bustards have been
regularly using restored chalk grassland at one of our
nature reserves in the area – which just goes to show
the value of habitat management work.'
There is still a long way to go to secure a sustainable
population of great bustards in the UK, but the historic
breeding attempt proves that suitable conditions exist
to tempt the birds to try to breed and conservationists
are hopeful that the birds will try again next year.
The RSPB hopes to continue to work closely with GBG to
re-establish the spectacular birds in the UK.
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