Rainfall threatens UK's bitterns
Friday, 08 Jun 2007 11:52
Just two of the bitterns' nests remain
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Heavy rainfall over the bank holiday weekend has dealt a setback to the numbers of one of the UK's rarest birds.
Bitterns breeding along the Suffolk coast had their nests and eggs destroyed after torrential rain led to flash flooding at many sites, according to the RSPB.
Before the wet weekend there were 20 booming male bitterns along the coast, including ten at the RSPB's Minsmere reserve and three at the neighbouring North Warren reserve.
And a survey in May found nine nests, including five at Minsmere and one at North Warren.
But following the rains just two of the nests remain, with the others washed out and their chicks likely to have been killed.
Adam Rowlands, site manager for Minsmere and North Warren, said that the discovery is a "serious set back for the bittern".
"Suffolk has been the engine room of the species' recent recovery in the UK with the RSPB's reserves playing a key role," he said.
"Anything that affects breeding success here is likely to have a knock-on effect across the country."
He added: "The one glimmer of hope is that the birds did get off to an early start this breeding season and there may still be time for some of them to try again, but it is getting late in the year."
Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's director of conservation,commented: "Bitterns need large areas of wet reedbed if they are to breed and find enough food. Far too many of the UK's reedbeds have been lost and this is another reminder that we must continue to create new ones – as the RSPB is doing – if the bittern and many other species are to have a future in our islands."
