crane monitoring

Today was a lovely sunny day spent observing the cranes on the reserve! I am conducting observational studies of the common cranes found at Slimbridge to better understand habitat use, time budgets, nesting behaviours and how the birds are interacting with other individuals. Understanding their habitat preferences and how they respond to disturbance will help in ensuring their long term persistence in the British countryside.

Cranes have been missing from the South West of the UK as breeding birds since around 400 years ago until a reintroduction programme was set up by WWT, RSPB and partners in 2010. There have been roughly 90 birds now released to the Somerset levels, which are now spreading far and wide across the UK, with 14 individuals currently using the reserve here at Slimbridge.