UK CRANE POPULATION REACHES ITS
HIGHEST LEVEL FOR OVER 400 YEARS
The crane was lost from the UK for nearly 400 years, but thanks
to conservation efforts their population numbers have once
again hit record levels.
These birds, the tallest in the UK at 4ft, used to be quite
common. They were even frequent fixtures at medieval feasts
– Henry II’s chefs cooked up 115 of them at his Christmas feast
in 1251, but a combination of hunting and wetland decline led
to their extinction in the 1600s.
In 1979, a small number of wild cranes returned to Norfolk
and conservation groups have been working together to
encourage more and more of these birds. They have now
spread to other areas of the UK, benefitting from improved
habitat such as at the RSPB’s Lakenheath and Nene Washes
reserves as well as Natural England’s Humberhead Peatlands.
Cranes recolonised Scotland in 2012 and Wales in 2016.
In 2010, the Great Crane Project – a partnership between the
RSPB, WWT and the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, and
funded by Viridor Credits Environmental Company – joined
the movement. The project creates and improves existing
habitat, as well as hand-rearing young birds for release on the
Somerset Levels and Moors.
All the conservation effort has yielded impressive results, with
56 pairs across the UK last year. Of these, up to 47 pairs
attempted to breed and they raised 26 chicks. The total
population is now believed to be over 200 birds - a new record.
Damon Bridge, Chair of the UK Crane Working Group said:
“The increase of cranes over the last few years shows just how
resilient nature can be when given the chance. With the support
of our wonderful partners we’ve been able to recreate more and
more of the cranes’ natural habitat, giving them a place to
recuperate after the winter and raise their chicks. They are not
yet out of the woods, but their continued population climb year
after year is a very positive sign.”
Andrew Stanbury, RSPB Conservation Scientist said: “Thanks
to the dedication of individuals, the UK Crane Working Group
and conservation organisations, we are delighted to see crane
numbers continuing to recover. Nature reserves have played a
vital role. At least 85% of the breeding population are found on
protected sites, with a third on RSPB reserves alone”.
Dr Geoff Hilton, WWT’s Head of Conservation Evidence said:
“The reintroduction of lost species must be supported with
good habitat management and protection for the recovery to
work. The success of the crane project to date demonstrates
what can be achieved in a short space of time by giving nature
a helping hand. We also must thank dedicated land managers
and farmers in the area for supporting crane conservation.”
Chrissie Kelley, Pensthorpe Conservation Trust’s Head of
Species Management said: “'As partners in the GCP, and with a
long association working with Eurasian Cranes, we are thrilled
to see wild cranes doing so well. Seeing these birds in flight is
breath-taking and we have regular sightings of them over our
reserve in Norfolk. We hope soon to spot one of the released
birds amongst those that visit Pensthorpe.”
10 | Rural Life