Booming Bitterns Down in 2005
The results of this years monitoring of breeding bitterns have just been published.
They show that there has was a reduction in the number of booming males from 55 in 2004 to 46 in 2005, a decrease of 16%. This is disappointing after 7 years of the graph going up. It is impossible to say for sure why there has been a reduction but it may be linked to the dry spring and the relatively mild winter on the continent, which probably meant that fewer birds wintered here. The number of nests also fell from 33 to 28 - a 15% drop.
However there are some highlights:
- The first booming in Dorset for at least 20 years!
- First booming and nesting at Titchwell since at least 1989.
- A doubling in the booming population in Cambridgshire from 2 to 4 males.
- 10 boomers and 8 nests at Minsmere, Suffolk.
These figures are provided thanks to the dedicated team of monitors, who spent many hours at all times of day, listening and watching.
For more information click here for the full report.
