Having listened to corncrakes on Islay and the Uists this year I am keen that the reintroduction project on the Nene Washes in Cambridgeshire continues to go well. It seems that it is!
We have at least 20 singing males - though I've said before that it's not the most impressive song in the world!
A good thing is that we know that many of these males are unringed - suggesting that they are birds recruited to the Nene Washes from elsewhere or, more likely, the offspring of previously-released birds that have been produced on the Nene Washes. In other words, we aren't just acting like a rear-and-release pheasant shoot - there is a growing 'natural' population growing up here. Fingers crossed! There is a long way to go, and these practical projects always have their ups and downs.
Mark, When you say birds recruited from elsewhere. Do we know if birds returning on migration will follow Nene birds even if they were raised uo north.