REINTRODUCTIONS
are controversial. They concentrate too much on the iconic species, critics say, to the detriment of those not so sexy, but equally important ones. Think Red Kite, Eurasian Lynx and Great Bustard. They’re also costly and fail to look at the environmental bigger picture – do suitable habitats for these still remain, for example.
But done well and with sensitivity, these projects can benefit wildlife and conservation as a whole – not just the species they concentrate on. For one thing they raise public awareness of biodiversity loss. They can also bring in vital funds for conservation, both from donations and the government purse. Restoring ecosystems for the target species can have a domino effect that helps others, too. The Great Bustard Project, based on Wiltshire’s Salisbury Plain, was one of those schemes that came in for criticism. It would never work, organisers were told. Yet almost two decades on, the project is still going strong, despite an almost total lack of support from government and non-government bodies. Has it produced a self-sustaining population of British bustards? You can find out on pages 20-24. And if you’re still not convinced, why not arrange a visit? Once English lockdown restrictions have been lifted, of course.
In the meantime, we’re all staying a bit closer to home. If you’ve got a rubbish tip nearby, have you considered birding there? It might not be the most appealing location, but refuse centres can be surprisingly productive, especially if gulls are your thing; read more on pages 25-27, and while you’re at it, brush up on your larid ID skills with our special photo guide to white-wingers (pages 32-37).