Home / Environment / Great Egrets Take Over Cambridgeshire Wetland
Great Egrets Take Over Cambridgeshire Wetland
20 Oct
Summary
- 13 great egrets were unexpectedly found in a parched Cambridgeshire field.
- Ouse Fen transformed low-grade agricultural land into a rich wetland.
- The area is now teeming with diverse wetland wildlife, including water voles and bitterns.
In a surprising turn of events, thirteen great egrets were observed hunting voles in a parched field in Cambridgeshire, despite the area's dry conditions.
These large, white birds, historically threatened by the Victorian feather trade, have made a significant comeback, colonizing British shores and increasing their breeding pairs since 2010.
The presence of the egrets is a testament to the dramatic ecological shift at Ouse Fen. This expansive floodplain, spanning 3,000 hectares, has been revitalized from low-quality agricultural land into one of Britain's most dynamic wetlands.
This transformation is the result of an innovative partnership between a gravel-extraction business and the RSPB. The revitalized fen is now flourishing with diverse wetland species.
Wildlife thriving at Ouse Fen includes water voles, bitterns, spined loaches, and marsh harriers. Archaeological findings on the site reveal a history of beavers and dalmatian pelicans, hinting at its rich ecological past.
