Bitterns bounce back at Leighton Moss
Eurasian Bittern is breeding at Leighton Moss RSPB, near Silverdale, Lancashire, for the first time in a decade, following the introduction of new methods of managing the nature reserve four years ago.
Jarrod Sneyd, Site Manager at Leighton Moss, said: “Leighton Moss has always been synonymous with bitterns. While we have consistently had them living here throughout the seasons, for the last 10 years they have sadly not been breeding.
“The reasons why are complex. Leighton Moss is an old reedbed, having formed after the First World War, and ageing reedbed tends to be quite dry. Bitterns like young, wet reedbeds where they can catch fish, so RSPB staff and volunteers spend a lot of time managing the site in a way that halts its ageing process and creates the conditions that bitterns and lots of other wildlife need to thrive.”
A Eurasian Bittern in flight by John Bridges (www.rspb-images.com).
Reedbed habitat is very important to conserve in Britain, as much has been lost through drainage for agriculture and development. In the late 1990s, Eurasian Bittern was almost wiped out in this country, due to the loss of this habitat on which they depend. At that time Leighton Moss was one of only a few sites in the country where the species was clinging on. Just 11 booming male Eurasian Bitterns were left in Britain, with three of those at Leighton Moss and the majority of the others in East Anglia. Since then, the RSPB and other conservation organisations have been working hard to save the species with some success – 166 males were recorded in 2017. The strongholds are now the Avalon Marshes in Somerset and the reedbeds of East Anglia, but until now this national success was not being mirrored at Leighton Moss.
“The traditional methods that have always worked in the past when managing Leighton Moss for bitterns had recently stopped being so effective, which is why these birds stopped breeding here. Lots of research went into how we might be able to improve the reedbed for bitterns once more,” Jarrod continued.
“Our expert ecologists and wardens embarked on new experimental methods of managing the reedbed four years ago, including digging out parts of the reedbed, temporarily drying out some areas and introducing deer management. This has encouraged the reeds and other plants to grow in areas where they were struggling. It’s still early days, but we’re delighted with the results so far. The reedbed has responded really well to the changes and the fact we have a bittern nest once more is a really encouraging sign.”
Eurasian Bittern populations are monitored by recording the number of ‘booming’ males. Booming is the unusual song of the male birds, a resonant sound similar to blowing over the top of a glass bottle. When in full boom, a male can be heard for miles.
Jarrod added: “We’ve had a booming male over the last decade, but he would fail to work up to a full boom or stop early in the season, and there was no sign of any breeding females. This year we were excited to hear a male properly booming in the reedbed, along with sightings of a female. Our dedicated team of wardens and volunteers has been out all spring, listening for booming and watching the female’s activity. They have been rewarded in the past couple of weeks by views of a female regularly going into and out of the same spot on the reserve, a sign that she is taking food into a nest for her chicks. We are absolutely thrilled!”
Visitors to the site may be rewarded with sightings of the female bittern from the Causeway hide, along with a variety of the reserve’s other special wildlife such as the breeding Western Marsh Harriers, a bird of prey reedbed specialist.