A pair that are unsuitable for release are housed in an open paddock . One came from the Hawk Conservancy , the other from the Project . The shelter contains a lot of information on the re-introduction project .
A pair that are unsuitable for release are housed in an open paddock . One came from the Hawk Conservancy , the other from the Project . The shelter contains a lot of information on the re-introduction project .
I think they injure themselves while they are in the Project release pens.
Initially there were two adult males living at the Hawk Trust at Weyhill (one was confiscated(?) from Belgium, this was a tame bird from the Spanish race so was not suitable for release on more than one count - but he later died.) More recently several birds from more recent importations seem to have also become 'unsuitable' for release and gone to Weyhill and/or here.
The hawk conservancy trust haven't had great bustards for a while now, and BirdWorld only have the pair onsite. Nelson came from the hawk conservancy and Morgana came from the great bustard group. Aside from being adults, both are definitely unsuitable for release seeing as Nelson has wing damage. This year they have had great success with the incubation and rearing of the bustard chicks with Birdworld's help.
They hatched and reared 33 chicks derived, for the first time this year, from Spanish stock. They are using Spanish instead of Russian birds from now on as a. they have been proven to be the most closely related to the original UK population. b. They are less migratory and so may therefore wander less.
32 were released on Salisbury Plain( one had to be destroyed after injury) at the GBT's release sites. In recent days they have begun to disperse locally and small groups are being seen in neighbouring counties too. One was seen on Alderney C.I.
There are also the nine adult birds(4.5.) which are the only survivors of the past nine or ten years(there wasn't one in 2013) of annual releases since 2004. They have bred in recent years too, but no chicks have survived to maturity yet.
