Since 1600 there haven’t been any cranes in the UK. Since 2007 the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) runs a project to start a breeding population. A Crane School has been founded at WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. A piece of swamp has been decorated specifically to raise crane chicks as naturally as possible. The chicks are raised by humans but the caretakers are always dressed in grey crane suits with hats. When the chicks are fed this occurs with machines that look like a crane’s head. The caretakers have to learn the chicks how to survive in the wild, how to swim and to gather food.
They also have to learn to socialize and protect themselves from predators. Eventually, the birds will be released into the wild.
Eight eggs would have been flown in from Germany, but due to the ash cloud flight embargo they had to be brought in by car. They were just in time, because only hours after their arrival the eggs hatched.
Cranes in England
16juni2010
After a turbulent car drive eight crane birds hatched in the United Kingdom. The eggs were supposed to be flown in, but the Icelandic volcano threw a monkey wrench (or rather ashes) in the works. A 17 hour care drive delivered the eggs just in time.
