Red-backed Shrike breeds again in Dartmoor National Park

Posted on: 01 Oct 2013Expires on: 31 Dec 2013

The RSPB has announced that two Red-backed Shrike chicks have fledged on Dartmoor this year, after the species failed to breed in 2012.

The only breeding pair of the species in England nested this summer at a secret location in the National Park, and have been under close watch to guarantee their safety in a project managed by the charity, with support from the police, the Forestry Commission, Natural England and local conservation groups.

Kevin Rylands of the RSPB said: “This is now the fourth year they have returned to Dartmoor, but they failed to breed successfully last year, probably due to the awful weather. A lone male visited the previous breeding site in May this year but failed to find a mate. Fortunately though a pair was found at a new site in June and this bodes well for the future of the species on Dartmoor.” Red-backed Shrike was driven to extinction as a breeding bird in Britain by the end of the last century and egg collecting remains a major threat.

“As in previous years we used a combination of volunteers, staff and sophisticated wildlife surveillance equipment as part of site protection and monitoring. Although it’s been hard work, the efforts have been rewarded, with two youngsters fledged. We are particularly grateful to the volunteers involved and to Devon Birds for funding some of the cameras used on site as part of Devon and Cornwall Police’s Operation Wilderness.”

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Common crane breeding in Scotland for first time since 16th century

The return of common crane breeding in Scotland for the first time in more than 400 years has stunned conservationists.

Two chicks have been born in the north-east of the country in the last year, to the delight of the RSPB.

The birds, known for their tall stature and loud mating call, typically spend their summers in northern Europe and migrate to France and Spain for winter.

They were once common in the UK but became extinct in the 16th century, with the last recorded breeding in Norfolk in 1543. Crane was a popular royal meal in the Middle Ages but the birds died out, mainly because of hunting and loss of habitat.

Since the 1970s a group of the birds have re-established a small population in Norfolk with 17 pairs breeding, but the two chicks born in Scotland are the first confirmed in the country for hundreds of years.

A crane can grow to 1.3m tall (4.2ft) with a wingspan of 2.4m (7.8ft). Their elegant breeding displays, which include dancing and ruffling feathers, are popular with bird spotters.

Cranes have been seen in the last few years at RSPB's Loch of Strathbeg nature reserve, near Fraserburgh, while travelling back to their breeding spots in northern Europe.

The bird charity is not disclosing the exact location of the nest site to minimise the risk of disruption.

The species favours large wetland areas such as lowland peat bogs and feeds on small insects, plants and grains.

Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland, said: "We are stunned and delighted to see that common cranes have bred successfully in Scotland. These charming, elegant birds have a strong place in our myths and history and are a delight to see, particularly during the breeding season with their dancing displays.

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