£4M project set to double bittern population in 10 years
Monday 12 May, 2003
A new £4 million project, which aims to double the numbers of one of Britainís rarest birds within the next 10 years, will be launched later today (Tuesday 13 May) at the RSPBís Minsmere reserve in Suffolk.
Aided by 60 per cent funding through the European Unionís LIFE Nature programme [note 1], a coalition of eight conservation organisations will help the bittern by improving and restoring the birdís reedbed habitats at 19 sites across England, from Yorkshire to Cornwall [note 2].
So far this year around 40 male bitterns have been recorded at several sites across the UK, and although this is the highest number in the UK since 1983, this is still only half the number of birds recorded in the 1950s and the bittern remains one of the UKís rarest breeding birds.
Sarah Alsbury, the project manager, said: ìWhen nesting, bitterns need large reedbeds with areas of open shallow water. The loss and deterioration of this habitat in Britain fuelled the birdís decline since the 1950s. By 1997, conservationists feared this heron-like bird was on the edge in Britain when only 11 calling males were noted in just four counties.î
This project [note 3] intends to expand the bitternís range by creating seven new reedbeds, enlarging five smaller ones, restoring three dry reedbeds and increasing the potential of four that currently host bittern, thus securing a strategic network of sites for bittern across England.
This project builds on the success of an earlier four-year emergency EU Life Nature project, launched in 1996, to prevent the bitternís extinction in the UK. Through the purchase of land to create new reedbeds and better management of existing areas of reedbed, the dramatic decline was reversed [note 4].
For further information and to arrange an interview, please contact:
Grahame Madge, RSPB press officer, on 01767 681577.
Out of hours, please telephone: 07702 196902 or page: 07654 344078
Sarah Alsbury, project manager, on: 01767 680551
Sue Ellis, English Nature, on: 01733 455190
Hilary Franzen, Broads Authority, on:01603 610734
Michael Krause, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, on: 01904 659570
Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, (01727) 858901
Mick Weston, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, on: 01204 361847
Barry Yates, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, on:07715 812503
Krizim Feltham, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, on: 01992 709970
Photographs and broadcast-quality footage:
Photographs of bittern and reedbeds are available from RSPB Images in digital or traditional format. Please contact Wendy Hollis at RSPB Images on 01268 711471, quoting ref: bittern
Broadcast-quality Beta footage of bittern and reedbeds is also available on request from the RSPB press office.
Notes
- 1. The EU LIFE Nature programme is the only EU funding dedicated to furthering nature conservation. One of its main objectives is to help establish and protect the Natura 2000 network of sites across Europe. It funds actions to protect threatened habitats or species of European importance.
- 2. The list of sites includes: Marazion Marsh in Cornwall; Radipole Lake and Lodmoor in Dorset; Ham Wall in Somerset; Castle Water and Dungeness in Kent; Lee Valley on the Essex and Hertfordshire border; Otmoor in Oxfordshire; Minsmere, Lakenheath and Walberswick in Suffolk; Titchwell and How Hill in Norfolk; Langford Lowfields in Nottinghamshire; Potteric Carr reserve in South Yorkshire; RSPB Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire; Wigan Flashes and Leighton Moss.
- 3. ëDeveloping a Strategic Network of SPA Reedbeds for Botaurus stellarisí, funded by the EU LIFE Nature Programme. Project Partners are RSPB, English Nature, Broads Authority, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
- 4. ëUrgent Conservation Action for the Bittern Botaurus stellarisí, funded by the EU LIFE Nature Programme. Project Partners were RSPB, Broads Authority, English Nature, Environment Agency, The National Trust, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
- 5. Bittern numbers are estimated from the males ìboomî ñ a foghorn sound that males do to announce their territory and attract females.
