2 April 2009

A Date With Ginger

A nature reserve in North Norfolk has its very own Ginger Rogers, a female marsh harrier who has now bred on site for the last seven years.
Staff at the RSPB’s Titchwell Marsh Reserve named her Ginger because of the spectacular sky dancing routines she delivers every spring and her large gingery breast band which makes her easy to recognise.

Ginger Rogers the Academy Award-winning American actress and dancer was perhaps most famous for her dancing routines with Fred Astaire. During her life she had several dancing partners and no less than five husbands.

Ginger the marsh harrier is already on her second partner! Her original breeding partner ‘Fred’ was already quite old when they paired up. Fred was also easy to recognise because like humans, male marsh harriers go greyer as they age. Unfortunately, he disappeared a couple of years ago but since then she has found herself a handsome young male (Fred II) and they have already started their 2009 sky dancing routine.

Marsh Harriers are a true conservation success story. Once extinct as a breeding bird in England due to habitat loss and persecution, they have made a spectacular comeback. Although they are still rarer as a breeding bird in the UK than the golden eagle, it is now possible to see them all across the region.

Dave Hawkins of the RSPB said, “This large wingspan coupled with a low weight gives the birds plenty of lift and is one of the main reasons they are able to perform their famous sky dancing routines.” For such a large and magnificent bird with a wingspan of approximately 5 feet, they are surprisingly light in weight and even a big female only weighs about the same as a jar and a half of jam. Dave went on to say, “Marsh harriers are simply breathtaking and relatively easy to see at Titchwell Marsh.

The staff in the visitor centre can direct you to the lookout point along the path where there will be signs or staff to help you. You can then finish your day with a nice slice of ginger cake from the servery!”

If you would like to see the avian version of Ginger and Fred then why not come along to the reserve throughout April and early May, you’ll be surprised at what you might see! For more details log on to www.rspb.org.uk or telephone 01485 210779.