9 May 2006

Way ahead of schedule, a bittern has started to boom at the Hanson-RSPB Wetland Project at Needingworth Quarry in Cambridgeshire.

The distinctive ‘boom’ of the bittern – the male’s far-carrying song – was first heard last Friday, 5 May. As the reeds were only planted in 2004, this is a big and welcome surprise for the RSPB, though it’s thought highly unlikely that the male will attract a mate.

The creation of Britain’s biggest reedbed is still in its very early stages. The first reedbed block of 24 hectares, where the bittern was booming, will be handed over to the RSPB this year. Work on the second block, some 20 hectares, is underway and reeds will be planted this summer.

The Hanson-RSPB Wetland Project involves the phased creation of a wetland nature reserve following the extraction of 28 million tonnes of sand and gravel. The 30 year project will transform a working sand and gravel quarry into a 700 hectare wetland.

Wetland creation at Needingworth Quarry is part of the RSPB’s target to create 5,000 hectares of new wetlands in the Fens in the next 20 years.

Further information
Chris Durdin, public affairs officer 01603 660066

Images: a digital image of a bittern can be emailed: please contact Pat Knibb or Chris Durdin pat.knibb@rspb.org.uk or chris.durdin@rspb.org.uk or tel 01603 660066

Additional notes:

There were 46 booming bitterns in the UK in 2005. Of these, 20 were in Suffolk and 11 in Norfolk.

2. For the Hanson-RSPB wetland project, the RSPB with Hanson and Cambridgeshire County Council received the Royal Town Planning Institute National Planning Achievement award for planning and biodiversity in 2000 and a Business Commitment to the Environment Award in 2003.

3. The RSPB in the Fens: the RSPB intends to create 5,000 hectares of new wetlands in the Fens in the next 20 years, and is part of the Wet Fens Partnership that is promoting wetland creation. New wetlands will prove a lifeline for birds and other wildlife, and provide local communities and visitors a chance to discover the unique fenland environment. The RSPB manages wet grazing marshes at the Ouse and Nene Washes in Cambridgeshire and is creating new freshwater wetlands at Lakenheath Fen in Suffolk, at the Hanson-RSPB wetland project at Needingworth in Cambridgeshire and adjacent to the Wash at Freiston Shore and Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire.

www.rspb.org.uk/fens

Chris Durdin
Public Affairs Officer
RSPB Eastern England Office
www.rspb.org.uk
e-mail: chris.durdin@rspb.org.uk
tel 01603 660066 direct line 01603 697521

The RSPB is the UK charity working to secure a healthy environment for birds and wildlife, helping to create a better world for us all.