Hurrah – the crane is making a comeback! The UK population is now at its highest level in more than 400 years. Its population is now estimated at over 200 birds #EarthOptimism #RSPBScience

Thanks to dedicated efforts of conservationists and partner orgs (inc work of the Great Crane Project w/ partners @WWTworldwide, Pensthorpe Conservation Trust & funded by @ViridorCredits) 93 captive reared birds were released between 2010 and 2014 to #RSPB West Sedgemoor reserve

Over a third of the UK population are found on RSPB reserves alone. In 2020, there were 23 pairs found across nine sites. @RSPBHamWall & @RSPBLakenheath are great for cranes! #RSPBEcology @shorelinekelly

This is in part thanks to #peatland restoration & #wetland protection – restoring more peatland would help wildlife like cranes as well as delivering for climate. The UK has yet to designate any protected areas for cranes – but...

...in 2016 @JNCC_UK published a review into highly protected sites for birds – Special Protection Areas. This review highlighted Cranes as one of a number of species for which no such areas have yet to be protected and for which the network is therefore insufficient

If we want to see this amazing achievement repeated across the UK, Governments must take action to designate the most important sites for this iconic species as part of the UK’s protected area network

Read the blog here https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/biodiversity/posts/wetland-success