Hi,
This is very good news indeed... but cranes have been breeding quite happily
and successfully in Norfolk since 1979!

The birds at Lakenheath are undoubtedly overspill birds from the Norfolk
Broads population and have colonised this area as conditions are right for them.
Lakenheath is a very short hop from the main UK breeding area. Other Norfolk
birds are now breeding outside the county elswhere in the UK . This sort of
dispersal from the the natal area is quite normal and was predicted.

the work of the RSPB in wetland creation should be commended. The cranes did
it all on their own without any human intervention. Its just a shame the RSPB
are making such a song and dance about it.
what is worrying is that so called bird experts failed to notice two large
noisey birds setting up home on their reserve! :-)
SP.

pendeen2002 <pendeen2002@...> wrote:
Hi,

Good news from the UK - Vince.

Cranes have been found breeding in the Fens of East Anglia for the
first time in 400 years.

The huge birds are nesting at the RSPB's Lakenheath Fen nature
reserve in Suffolk - a site that was a carrot field until the Society
bought it 11 years ago and began its transformation into a square
mile of marsh and fen.

Staff there came upon a nest by chance while carrying out a routine
survey of the site. It is believed the eggs are about to hatch and
may already have done so. In addition, the nesting pair appear to
have attracted in other, visiting cranes.

The amazing discovery comes as Lakenheath Fen prepares to throw open
the doors to its new visitor centre today (17 May 2007).

With a seven-foot wingspan and a loud, bugling call, the crane is a
true wildlife spectacle. Persecution and the large-scale drainage of
the Fens for agriculture, led to its disappearance as a breeding bird
in Britain by about 1600.

With a seven-foot wingspan and a loud, bugling call, the crane is a
true wildlife spectacle
A small number returned to the Norfolk Broads in 1979 but while they
have bred there successfully, the population has remained isolated
and vulnerable. Their arrival at Lakenheath Fen offers hope that they
may now be starting to spread into the Fens.

The RSPB's Chief Executive, Graham Wynne CBE, said: 'The arrival of
cranes at Lakenheath Fen is fantastic news for the future of this
species in the UK. It is also testimony to the truly inspirational
work done at the site.

'We have gone from carrot fields to cranes in 11 years. Their
decision to nest on the reserve was totally unexpected, very exciting
and completely wonderful.

'Lakenheath Fen is a superb example of what can be achieved by
restoring wildlife habitats on a large scale and proves that when it
comes to wetlands, bigger really is better.

'Now, with the opening of our new visitor centre, we can really start
to show people the great work that's been done here and bring them
close to the nature on their doorsteps.'

A wetter, better future
There is more on the way with the RSPB planning to create almost 20
square miles of new wetlands in the Fens over the next 20 years.

The Society hopes the £700,000 visitor centre will help make
Lakenheath Fen a gateway to the Fens and its native wildlife for tens
of thousands of people, with visitor numbers increasing from 15,000
to 60,000 a year.

The centre was built thanks to generous funding from the Heritage
Lottery Fund, Waste Recycling Environmental (WREN), which distributes
landfill tax credits for Waste Recycling Group Ltd (WRG), Suffolk
Development Agency and Suffolk County Council. It will be a focal
point for visitors coming to the new reserve where they can be met by
staff and volunteers.

As well as the cranes, Lakenheath Fen boasts six pairs of marsh
harriers and brightly coloured golden orioles among its bird life,
alongside more than 100 aquatic plants, whose seeds had lain dormant
among the carrots before bursting back to life with the return of
water to the site.

Visitor access to the reserve will be managed to minimise disturbance
to the cranes. Visitors will have the opportunity to watch for them
at a designated viewing point, while staff and volunteers will be on
hand to provide information about the spectacular birds and how the
RSPB has created the reserve.

Robyn Llewellyn, Regional Manager for Heritage Lottery Fund in the
East of England said, 'Birds are an important part of both our
heritage and our environment. Every Lottery ticket has the potential
to save our landscapes, countryside and creatures.

'Thanks to more than £500,000 of Lottery players' money, this new
visitor centre will transform the way visitors learn about this
stunning fen, and offer new opportunity for everyone to enjoy this
remarkable reserve.'

Working magic
John Marsh, WREN Chairman, said 'The RSPB really has worked its
magic here, turning carrot fields into a superb nature reserve. WREN
is proud to continue helping to fund this wonderful project. This has
been a major undertaking in East Anglia for the RSPB, and WREN has
been supportive of the reserve right from the very start.'

Suffolk Development Agency contributed through its 'Investing in
Communities' fund. Scott Dolling, Destination Marketing Manager,
said: 'Tourism is worth more than £1 billion to the Suffolk economy
and the RSPB makes a significant contribution towards reasons for
visitors to come to the county. Lakenheath's new reserve should raise
the profile further and we look forward to welcoming more visitors as
a result.'

Suffolk County Councillor Eddie Alcock, environment portfolio holder,
said: 'Suffolk's environment is one of the finest in Britain. To
continue to improve it we must build on the efforts of local people
in caring for their environment, countryside, coast, towns and
villages and tackle the challenge of Suffolk becoming the greenest
county.

'Suffolk County Council's support to the RSPB's exciting new facility
at Lakenheath Fen recognises that historic landscape and diverse
wildlife provide a unique and attractive combination.'






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