Bittern 1 Summary
This project builds on a previous project where an EU LIFE grant helped to fund work at 13 sites. By the early 1990s, bittern numbers were dropping again and in 1997 there were only 11 booming bitterns. Conservation organizations realized even at sites that were considered as bittern strongholds, such as Minsmere in Suffolk, the numbers of booming males declined.
Therefore, urgent action was needed to save the bittern in the UK. They consequently put together a package of emergency action, aimed at improving habitats for bitterns. At Minsmere, the top layer of an area of reedbed was removed and pools created within it. This made the reedbed much wetter, encouraging fish to move in and providing the bitterns with more places to feed. The numbers of booming bitterns has risen from 1 - 5.
Other sites in the project were: Cley, Easton Broad, Hickling, Holme, Norman Gwatkin, Old Hall, Strumpshaw, Titchwell, Walberswick, Wicken Fen and Malltraeth/ Valley Wetlands.
