‘Radical’ plans to bring back Britain’s biggest bird
BRITAIN’S biggest bird, the Dalmatian pelican, could make a comeback under rewilding plans that conservationists hope will see the return of the species.
The birds, which can be up to 6ft (1.8m) tall and have a wingspan of about 11ft, disappeared from our wetlands before medieval times but are present in the fossil record, which helps palaeontologists place species in the appropriate geologic era.
The species was common 12,000 years ago and bones from the Bronze and Iron Ages have been found in peat bogs in Norfolk, East Yorkshire and Somerset. However, the drainage of wetlands, alongside hunting and other disturbances, led to the extinction of the pelican in the UK.
Nikki Williams, director of campaigns and policy at the Wildlife Trusts, told The Daily Telegraph: “Pelicans soaring over marshlands would be a fantastic sight – but first we need more bigger, better wetlands. We want to see the return of species that were once common, but before this can be done we must ensure there’s plenty of the right sort of wild habitat first.
“As things stand, we’re one of the most nature-depleted countries on the planet and that’s because we have so few wild places left.”
The birds are currently found across the Mediterranean, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Proposals for the reintroduction of the Dalmatian pelican were drawn up by Benedict Macdonald, author of Rebirding, who said there are currently a handful of sites left which would be appropriate for the bird.
He said: “Soaring effortlessly between the ever-growing marshes of East Anglia, Dalmatian pelicans will become the crowning glory of conservation wetlands famous across the world. Their presence is likely to help enhance the protection of fish stocks – a flagship indicator species.
“Radical as this idea may seem, remember that Russians and Americans, Australians and Greeks, look out each day on birds whose wings blacken the sky. We simply cannot fail to bring back Dalmatian pelicans to our marshes. They were, and could be again, our greatest living bird.”
Craig Bennett, CEO of the Wildlife Trusts, supports the plan but said the Government must take a holistic approach to restoring nature. He said: “Where a species can be demonstrated to have been native to the UK and it is no longer present because of human activities then, in principle, we would enthusiastically support its reintroduction when the circumstances are right.
“That means creating the right habitat, building community and other stakeholder support and making sure management mechanisms are in place to deal with potential challenges.
“Benedict’s proposal for the reintroduction of Dalmatian pelicans is exciting and certainly needs to be put into the mix. But there’s a lot to do.”