Pensthorpe Nature Reserve Pensthorpe Natural Park news

[DesertRhino150]

A total of 76 Eurasian curlew eggs that have been collected from airfields are currently being hatched and reared at Pensthorpe. In July, the young birds will be released into the wild at several specially chosen sites in west Norfolk including Wild Ken Hill and the Sandringham Estate with the hope of restoring a breeding population that is linked to the surviving population in Breckland further south.

Translocation of curlews at this scale has never been undertaken before. In 2018, only six curlew chicks successfully fledged across the whole of southern England. The eggs (118 in total) were rescued as airfields provide perfect nesting sites but the adult birds pose a safety risk to aircraft.

More information can be found in the link below:
Rescued curlew chicks to be released in Norfolk - BirdGuides

 

[DesertRhino150]

Following twenty years involved with red squirrel conservation, Pensthrope's conservation project with the species has naturally come to a close. The last of the squirrels have now been rehomed with other conservation partners in the UK.

More information can be found in the link below:
Conservation of the Red Squirrel in Norfolk at Pensthorpe Natural Park

 

[Pertinax]

Following twenty years involved with red squirrel conservation, Pensthrope's conservation project with the species has naturally come to a close. The last of the squirrels have now been rehomed with other conservation partners in the UK.

More information can be found in the link below:
Conservation of the Red Squirrel in Norfolk at Pensthorpe Natural Park

Doesn't really explain why its come to a close though.

 

[DesertRhino150]

Pensthorpe have unfortunately confirmed a case of avian influenza within their park, most likely due to wild birds that carry the disease visiting the park. As a result, they have decided to close with immediate effect (from Saturday 5th February) to mitigate further risk to their birds and those in the local area. They are currently liaising with DEFRA and are continuing to monitor the situation. They will reopen only when it is safe to do so.

Information comes from the Pensthorpe Facebook page.

 

[DesertRhino150]

Four broods of corncrake chicks hatched at Pensthorpe have been moved to WWT Welney, where they will be released into the wild once they reach 35 days of age.

Information comes from a post on Pensthorpe's Facebook page.

 

[Smaggledagle]

Spoiler: Rehabilitation News

On May 25th, the reserve announced that (0.0.3) Eurasian curlews named Charles, Clive, and Curly hatched.

Pensthorpe - **Behind the scenes** Scroll through to find...

On May 27th, the reserve announced that (0.0.2) Eurasian curlews named Cleopatra and Crumble hatched.

Pensthorpe - Meet Cleopatra & Crumble These hatchlings...

On June 25th, the reserve announced that a (0.0.1) Eurasian curlew named Coco hatched.

Pensthorpe - And the results are in... At our Open Farm...

On June 27th, the reserve announced that another (0.0.1) Eurasian curlew named Chad hatched.

Pensthorpe - Curious about curlews... This week a team...

On July 29th, the reserve announced they transferred (0.0.100) corncrakes to WWT Welney Wetland Centre in Wisbech.

Pensthorpe - Behind the scenes... Our 100th corncrake...

On August 2nd, the reserve announced that a (0.1) Eurasian curlew named Corvus hatched.

Pensthorpe - Cheerio Hattie! A favourite of all staff...

On August 18th, the reserve announced they released several Eurasian curlews into the wild.

Pensthorpe - We had a busy day yesterday! Crumpet,...

On May 14th, 2023, the reserve announced that they acquired a new group of European honeybees which are now on exhibit in the Discovery Centre.

Pensthorpe - Bees! Did you know we have a beehive at...

On June 27th, the reserve announced that a (0.0.1) greater flamingo named Frankie hatched. On August 31st, the reserve announced that (0.0.4) more greater flamingos named Florian, Flossy, Phoenix, and Phoebus hatched.

Pensthorpe - And the results are in... At our Open Farm...
Pensthorpe - Have you spotted our flamingo chicks Flossy,...

On July 3rd, the reserve announced that they opened a new fishing hut building to the public.

Pensthorpe - Down by the river... Have you visited the...

On July 30th, the reserve announced that they transferred a (1.0) Eurasian crane named Hattie to the Watatunga Wildlife Reserve in Norfolk.

Pensthorpe - Cheerio Hattie! A favourite of all staff...

On August 10th, the reserve announced that they reopened the Wildrootz outside toilets to the public.

Pensthorpe - After a long build we’re very pleased to say...

 

[DesertRhino150]

Got back from a visit to Pensthorpe today. This is what I noticed:

• Presumably because of the 2022 avian influenza outbreak, there are practically no more captive waterfowl in the park. The main lake near the entrance had two female common goldeneye, a single female red-crested pochard and three male common pochard that may be captive. Otherwise, just mallards, Egyptian geese and mute swans among the waterfowl. The greater flamingos and three species of crane were still in evidence.
• The two female corncrakes in the Wader Aviary have gone off-show. Because they were female, they combined the natural shyness of the species with not performing any courtship calls, so they were almost never seen. Otherwise, all the other captive species in the aviary remain the same as my last visit.
• The Discovery Centre is being used temporarily as an indoor eating area while the main café is enlarged and refurbished. As a result, no harvest mice were visible and the only live animals on-display was a small aquarium for native ramshorn snails.