Corncrake Crex crex
Once a familiar bird across much of the UK the Land Rail (as the Corncrake used to be known) has disappeared from nearly virtually everywhere. The remaining fragile breeding population in the Western Isles of Scotland is apparently responding well to conservation initiatives, growing by 250% in 15 years (per RSPB website). A reintroduction project has begun recently with birds released in the Nene Washes in Cambridgeshire. Elsewhere in the UK, including in Norfolk, it remains a rare passage migrant.
The following photos are of captive birds at Pensthorpe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
captive Corncrakes, Pensthorpe (Norfolk, UK), 9th March 2014
|
|
