Crane chick at nature centre makes history
OPENED 46 YEARS AGO
A CHICK has made history at a North East nature visitor attraction.
WWT Washington Wetland Centre is celebrating the arrival of the common crane chick – a first since the site was established 46 years ago.
Its parents have been part of the centre’s animal collection since 2008 and have not successfully bred until now.
The pair came from WWT’S headquarters in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, in the early stages of the pioneering Great Crane Project, which has now seen the species successfully reintroduced to the UK.
The chick’s arrival follows months of nest building, prospecting and laying low towards the back of the centre’s stream channel exhibit, where they finally laid and incubated their egg.
WWT Washington’s collections team kept watch on the nest and monitored the first-time parents’ behaviour to ensure things went smoothly.
Collection manager Rhys Mckie, said: “We’re unbelievably thrilled to see our common cranes become parents for the first time and it’s even more thrilling that this pair of cranes came from the Great Crane Project.
“The adults have been here since they were just one year old, arriving in 2008, so at the age of 15, this is a pretty big moment for them and for us all.
“Visitors may have noticed that the cranes have been less visible lately – something that happens every spring for this pair. But this year we’re so pleased to see they have been successful with their breeding efforts.” The new family is currently off-show to allow them time to bond in a protected environment and enable the team to closely monitor their health and behaviour.
“While there are still hurdles this family has to get over, we’re giving them the best possible chance to thrive,” said Rhys.
“They’re doing all the right things and are bonding as we would hope, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that everything continues to go smoothly.”
At four feet, common cranes are the UK’S tallest birds. They were once widespread but were lost as a breeding species around 400 years ago due to hunting and draining of wetland sites.
The total population is now believed to be more than 200 birds. According to the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club, there were four documented sightings of cranes visiting Northumberland in 2019,
Currently one bird has taken up residence in the Bamburgh-beadnell area.
Martin Davison, chairman of the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club, said: “Cranes are now doing well and there is no reason why they could not breed in Northumberland, where we have suitable habitat.”
FIRST BIRTH FOR SPECIES SINCE SITE