GBG Press Release 23rd July 2007

Great Bustards nest again in UK

Earlier this spring a female Great Bustard from the GBG reintroduction trial in Wiltshire nested and laid two eggs. Due to fears of egg thieves and disturbance from bird watchers, the announcement was delayed and the location of the nest is being kept secret.

This event is enormously exciting and a huge milestone in the quest to return this magnificent bird to Britain. The last wild Great Bustard eggs were laid in 1832 when Queen Victoria was a young girl and would not be crowned for another 5 years and steam had not yet replaced sail on the world’s oceans.  

It had been thought 2008 would be the first year of nesting as the males need to be 4-5 years old before they can breed.

David Waters GBG Director, “It had been thought 2008 would be the first year that nesting activity would be seen and it is a tremendous boost to have this happening earlier.” Although males were seen displaying to females this spring, it is understood that males have to be about five years old before they can breed. The eggs were incubated by the female, but then abandoned and, after examination, found to be infertile. This is likely to be linked to the young age of the males. David Waters, “Significantly, only birds in good condition produce eggs. Hungry or stressed wild birds do not produce eggs so this is a strong indication of the success of the project.”
           
2007 has been a tremendously encouraging year for the Great Bustard Project. The birds are released on Salisbury Plain and each autumn and winter move away from the home site returning during the spring.  This year more than ever have made the return journey including two males which had not been seen anywhere for over 18 months. 

It is known Great Bustards travel considerable distances during the winter months, but it is very encouraging to have them return, not just to Wiltshire, or to Salisbury Plain, but to the very site of their release.

GBG Project Officer Al Dawes says “Great Bustards are notoriously shy and secretive birds so keeping track of them is a big challenge. It is a credit to farmers and landowners that they keep us informed of the birds whereabouts, which led to the discovery of the nest this spring.”

David Waters, GBG Director says “These first steps towards achieving a breeding population of wild Great Bustards in the UK are a confirmation of the success of the GBG’s methods of release.”
The chicks are raised in Russia from eggs rescued from nests destroyed by cultivation. Despite coming from Russia, they have taken the release area as being the natal site.

The Great Bustard, despite being such a high profile feature of the British countryside is referred to as an Alien Species by the Government and as such the project to restore it is cut off from most funding sources, relying almost exclusively on private donations and sponsorship.

---ends---

Photograph:
Female at nest with two eggs (shown above).
Available for download at high resolution. 
Please credit to ‘IUCN Bustard Specialist Group’ who hold copyright.

For further press enquiries:

David Waters
Great Bustard Group
01980 611 686
07974 785 426
wbustard@aol.com

For general enquiries:
(Including donations, sponsorship, membership to GBG, visits to the release site and project information)

Al Dawes
Great Bustard Group
07817 971 327
al@greatbustard.com

Acknowledgements:
The GBG gratefully acknowledges the support from businesses, many local, including:

Great Bustard Group:
A UK Registered Charity: Number 1092515