Great Bustards

Extinct in this country since 1832, the Great Bustard is the subject of a reintroduction project on Salisbury Plain.

I read about it years ago. At the time there seemed no way to get the birds to recognise Foxes as predators, and I assumed the whole scheme had been a failure. This meant I was really excited to find out recently that the project had not only been continuing, but going from strength to strength.

Even more exciting is the opportunity to book a Great Bustard safari. We met Ruth Manvell, the project dircector, at a car park and were taken by land-rover up to the release site. This lies in MOD land just outside an 'impact zone' used for artillery practice.

The remote Wiltshire chalk Downland is marvellous. There were Red Kites, Buzzards, Kestrels, Corn Buntings and even a few Swallows to be seen. Apparently Stone Curlew is regular in the Spring.

The number of established individuals is now over 50, and several clutches of eggs have been laid by reintroduced birds. The Great Bustard Group anticipate something of a population explosion over the next few years, as the majority of reintroduced birds get old enough to breed.

Look at the website greatbustard.org for more news and information about how to visit.