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Cranes Soar: Record Chicks Hatched in UK Nature Reserve
9 Apr
Summary
- A record 37 common crane chicks were born across the UK last year.
- Common cranes went extinct in the UK around 400 years ago.
- Lakenheath Fen nature reserve has raised 26 chicks since 2007.
The common crane, the UK's tallest bird species, is experiencing a significant population recovery, with a record-breaking 37 chicks born across the country last year. This success is partly attributed to dedicated efforts at nature reserves like RSPB's Lakenheath Fen in Suffolk, which has hosted breeding cranes since 2007.
These majestic birds, standing over a metre tall, faced extinction in the UK around 400 years ago due to hunting and wetland destruction. Last year's breeding season saw 87 pairs across the UK, contributing to an estimated total population of about 250 individuals.
Lakenheath Fen has played a vital role, with three breeding pairs currently established and 26 chicks successfully raised at the site since 2007. The reserve's reedbeds provide a safe, human-free environment for nesting. Conservationists have also created open spaces, termed 'runways', to aid the birds' flight.
Despite this progress, cranes remain vulnerable to climate change impacting their wetland habitats. Building the crane population is a slow process, as pairs mate for life and require several years for young birds to mature and establish their own territories, with each pair typically laying only two eggs annually.
