The UK’s tallest bird, the Common Crane, is going from strength to strength here at RSPB Lakenheath Fen in Suffolk, thanks to the creation of Crane ‘runways’ in our reedbed.
During early winter months, four large areas measuring approximately 5 metres wide by 10 metres long are cut out of the middle of the 90 hectares of reedbed here, creating open areas free of tall vegetation. These areas are used like an airport runway by Cranes for landing and take-off during spring and summer months, allowing them to safely land and take off near to their nests, which they build in shallow water near to the runways. Their nests are sizeable, measuring up to 1.5 metres wide. Photo credit: RSPB Lakenheath Fen Site Manager Dave Rogers beginning a new runway for the Cranes. Photo credit: Dave Rogers Photo credit: A Common crane nest from 2018 at RSPB Lakenheath Fen. Photo taken by Dave Rogers.
Cranes naturally prefer landing and taking off in open areas and the runways allow them to do so without catching their huge eight foot wingspan on the reeds.
After landing and before approaching their nest, Cranes will carefully look around to make sure there are no predators nearby. Then when they feel it is safe, they quietly sneak through the reedbed to their nests to incubate their eggs and will roost there overnight with their chicks. Their caution helps to protect the nests by doing their best not to alert any predators to their presence.
During 2024, three Crane pairs nested here at RSPB Lakenheath Fen, resulting in three Crane chicks successfully leaving the nest.
Cranes only lay two eggs at a time, and it takes nearly four months from the eggs hatching to the chicks starting to fly. So, building up a Crane population takes time. Photo credit: An adult Common crane with it's two week-old chicks. Photo by Dave Rogers.
The management of the reedbed including the annual creation of these safe landing spaces is part of what has kept Cranes returning to RSPB Lakenheath Fen to breed for many years.
Dave Rogers, our Site Manager here at RSPB Lakenheath Fen said, “The annual creation of runways during the winter has proven to be a simple yet effective way to encourage Cranes to return each year to breed. Our nature reserve here at Lakenheath Fen was originally designed to provide a safe home for species that favour living in reedbed and we are overjoyed when we see that work paying off, with young Cranes successfully fledging year after year. Cranes are most visible on-site during February and March when they are displaying to their partners and marking out their breeding territories, so if you want to be in with a chance of seeing these incredible birds first hand, do stop by and visit us then. We can guarantee that if you are lucky enough to spot them, seeing your first Crane in the wild is a moment you will never forget.”
Cranes have been one of the biggest success stories to come out of RSPB Lakenheath Fen since its inception, nearly 30 years ago. In 2007, two pairs of Cranes arrived on site and nested, taking advantage of the then newly establishing reedbed, which at that time consisted of shallow water and clumps of reedbed - perfect for Crane nesting and landing areas. As the reedbed has grown and developed the reeds have spread through much of the shallow water areas where Cranes land, hence the need for cutting the runways.
Since 2007, Cranes have bred on the site nearly every year, with a total of 24 chicks being raised there in the last 18 years. The first chick fledged successfully from RSPB Lakenheath Fen in 2009. Photo credit: Two well-grown chicks with their parents! Photo by Dave Rogers.
Cranes are incredibly charismatic and distinctive. They can stand anywhere up to 1.2 metres tall with very long legs and a long slender neck leading to a black and white patterned head – topped off by a vibrant patch of bare, red skin on their crown. Their light grey body plumage, with darker grey wing tips is complimented by cascading grey tail feathers. Cranes vocalise by making a joyous sounding call known as bugling. This can especially be heard during the mating season when they ‘dance’ together to bond with their mate – stamping their feet, throwing their head back and flapping their wings.
In the 18th century, Cranes became extinct in the UK due to the draining of marshland and hunting, but the Crane comeback began with the arrival of a small number of wild birds to the Norfolk Broads in the late 1970s.
Numbers are gradually increasing, with the last count of breeding pairs in the UK in 2023 being 80, building on 72 pairs in 2021. Their total UK population is now in excess of 250 birds. However, this is still a relatively low number, and it is hoped that reedbed creation and management efforts such as creating Crane runways at RSPB Lakenheath Fen, will continue to bolster the population of this amazing giant of the bird world for years to come. Photo credit: Five adult Common cranes on the reserve. Photo by Dave Rogers.
For more information about visiting us go to: www.rspb.org.uk/lakenheathfen.by Ann Favell (Communications Officer, RSPB England)