Things are looking good for rare bird in Rye area

Published on the 05 May 2014 

15:42

A BIRD that was on the brink of extinction a century ago is making a strong come-back in the Rye area.

Bitterns, related to herons, are secretive birds skilled at concealing themselves.

Bittern RSPB SUS-140205-101744001

The only real give-away to their presence can be the ‘booming’ call of the male and so this is used as a measure of how many bitterns are around.

Now for the first time in its history, two male bitterns are calling for mates a the RSPB’s Dungeness reserve on Romney Marsh.

Reserve warden Natalie Holt said, “We had two teams out last week, they were in entirely different parts of the reserve and they each heard a calling bittern close by at precisely the same time - so there has to be two.”

A century ago bitterns had been driven to extinction through hunting for the pot and the drainage of the reed beds for farming. Efforts to bring them back had been slow, with only 11 ‘booming’ males in the UK by 1997. RSPB Dungeness became part of the recovery programme when, in 2007, the creation of reed beds in the former gravel pits commenced to encourage them back. The habitat and associated fish take time to establish and mature, so it was only in 2010 the first confirmed breeding took place. Since then a single bittern has been heard and at least two females have nested each year. The arrival of a second male is great news for the project, bringing the total to 122 in the UK.

http://www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/news/local/things-are-looking-good-for-rare-bird-in-rye-area-1-6035553

Airport given signal to take off

Published on 11/04/2013 08:45

LYDD Airport’s expansion plans have been approved by the Government amid a storm of controversy.

The long-awaited enquiry decision finally came late on Wednesday afternoon and was immediately greeted with a strong reaction.

Objectors, including the RSPB, the Council for the Protection of Rural England and Lydd Airport Action Group repeated concerns over nuclear safety and the impact on the Romney Marsh environment.

But airport executive manager Hani Mutlaq said the decision was “a victory for common sense and for local people” which would create jobs and boost tourism.”

The £25 million plans include the construction of a 294 metre runway extension and a new terminal building capable of handling up to 500,000 passengers a year. Owners say they have already spent £35 million in the last decade in modernising the airport, which dates back to 1958.

But Lydd Airport Action Group have vowed legal actions will follow. The Group’s Louise Barton said: “This approval is despite the development infringing at least two European Directives: the Habitats Directive and the Nuclear Safety Directive - opening the government to legal challenge.

“Infringement proceedings under the Pilot Mechanism for the Nuclear Safety Directive are already underway.

The RSPB conservation group labelled the decision “shocking”. It’s Conservation Director, Martin Harper said: “This is the wrong decision as it opens the door to real damage to Dungeness, to its wildlife and the quality of life for many of its residents.”

http://www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/news/local-news/airport-given-signal-to-take-off-1-4986409