EU LIFE Reedbeds for Bitterns Project come to an end.
The EU LIFE Reedbeds for Bitterns Project comes to an end on 30th June 2006.
The overall aim of the project was to increase the numbers of booming bitterns to 65 by the year 2012 and a huge amount has been achieved since 2002, which will contribute to the achievement of that target.
Nineteen sites were originally identified for inclusion in the project with Poole Harbour being added in 2004
In order to meet the project objectives a two-pronged approach was taken including:
1. restoration work at existing sites, including bittern breeding sites, to boost productivity as quickly as possible and
2. the creation of new reedbeds
Land purchase was also needed at some sites to enable the project to go ahead.
Overall the project has done more than anticipated on 11 of the 14 \'headline\' measures of outputs. These \'headlines\' included such things as:
- Land bought for nature conservation
- Reprofiling ditches and lake margins
- Creating landform for new reedbed
- Installing water control structures
- Reed establishment
- Clearing ditches and removing competetive vegetation
Some highlights of the project are:
Castle Water
- A bittern was seen on site in July 2004, unusual for Castle Water but a good sign
- Successful colonisation of 14ha by reed in 5 years from transplanted reed and naturally occurring seedlings
- The project has raised the wildlife and visitor value of the site and raised the profile of the site politically. The reed birds and bitterns remain a great attraction for visitors, so a formal viewing area with a boardwalk and decking has been contructed
- A second phase of reedbed creation will start this summer
Dearne Valley
- Reprofiling to improve water movement within the reed bed was highly successful. The resulting areas were planted with reed seedlings and rhizome and the reed is developing well
- There were 2 wintering bitterns seen on sight during the 2005/06 winter period
Poole Harbour
- Pools have been created within 3 areas of existing fresh and brackish reedbed to provide more feeding places
Potteric Carr
- A 58ha extension to Potteric Carr has gone ahead with the purchase of the land in 2004 followed by works to create wet reedbed and grassland
Radipole/Lodmoor
- The main work was unable to go ahead due to problems with floodplain capacity
Titchwell
- first booming and nesting bittern since at least 1989, following pool and ditch work to restore existing reedbed
Walberwick
- 4000m of ditch has been re-profiled and pools dug out to provide more feeding places
Wigan Flashes
- A bittern booming in early February was the first for the Wigan Flashes since the early eighties, following extensive reedbed creation at 4 flashes
- the project has enabled voluteers to receive training on many aspects of conservation management, helping build skills and confidence. Several voluteers have gone on to get paid employment as a result
After two years of exponential rises the population appears to have stabilised in the mid 40s. One can only speculate as to the reasons why the population has come down from the peak of 55 boomers in 2004. These include:
- Dry winters and springs, reducing food availability in sites with little or no control of water levels
- Relatively warm winters on the continent, reducing the migration of continental birds, some of which probably stay and boom
As the sites within this project develop, the availability of more suitable habitat should see numbers start to rise again.
Although the Bittern Project will finish at the end of June 2006 the project website will still be accessible however it will not be updated after the end of the project.
