Feeding time at the Lake...

For the second consecutive winter the harshness of the weather has forced us to take steps to help ensure that some of our illustrious visitors have a fighting chance of surviving the cold. The majority of our ditch and lake edges have been frozen solid for many days thus removing fishing rights for bittern and others. As with all the prime RSPB bittern wintering sites we have commenced pre-dawn supplementary feeding missions to favoured bittern roosting and feeding locations. We know that this works as we have seen the birds emerging from the depths of the reed to take advantage of the easy pickings, and are hopeful of capturing some footage on our motion activated remote cameras.

A bucket of prime bittern fodder.

The fish that we are providing are sprats which as sea fish are not part of a bittern’s natural diet; they are though extremely oily and high in energy which is perfect for combating the cold. Perhaps the most difficult part of the whole endeavour is ensuring that marauding gulls do not scoff the lot before the target species gets to dine, but experience has taught us that there is a certain density of vegetation that gulls are unable to penetrate.

The reason that we go to extra lengths to ensure that bittern are in the best possible shape to survive the winter is because of their low population nationally. In the 19th century bittern became extinct in the UK as a breeding species due to the wide scale drainage and 'improvement' of reedbeds and hunting. Although they re-colonised with better protection but even so by the late 1990's there were just 11 'booming' (calling) males in the British Isles - precariously close to once more disappearing.

Intensive scientific research took place to examine their exact niche habitat requirements which has lead to reedbed creation - for example RSPB Ham Wall in Somerset, (8 bittern nests in 2010 in what was a commercial peat extraction site in the mid-1990’s) and reedbed restoration such as what has recently occurred at Radipole. 87 British boomers and over 40 confirmed nests this year represents the best bittern year for 6 or 7 generations - but with such relatively low numbers their situation remains precarious; ergo the need to feed.

The picture below demonstrates what magnificently adapted reedbed dwellers they are and why they deserve the reverence directed towards them.

Although uncommon prolonged cold conditions and lack of food can lead to the discovery of weak, listless bittern - often in unusual locations (ie anywhere other than in a reedbed). In the unlikely event of this occurring please let us and/or the RSPCA know at the earliest convenience rather than attempting to catch the bird as they will strike at the eyes of any perceived attacker.