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BS: Britain gets bustards!
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BS: Britain gets bustards! |
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Subject: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: beardedbruce Date: 26 Jul 07 - 01:13 PM Great Bustard lays eggs in Britain for first time in 175 years Tue Jul 24, 6:24 AM ET LONDON (AFP) - The world's heaviest flying bird, the Great Bustard, has laid its first eggs in Britain in 175 years, conservationists who re-introduced the species here said. The Great Bustard Group (GBG) said a female of the species, which can weigh up to 40 pounds (18.1 kilogrammes) and has a wing span of up to eight feet (2.4 metres), laid two eggs earlier this year in Wiltshire, south-west England. But although the eggs were incubated, abandoned and later found to be infertile, GBG director David Walters said it was a major achievement and signs that a breeding programme, first started nine years ago, was working. "It had been thought 2008 would be the first year that nesting activity would be seen and it is a tremendous boost to have this happening earlier," he said in a statement released Monday. "Although males were seen displaying to females this spring, it is understood that males have to be about five years old before they can breed." It is thought the eggs were infertile because the male had not reached maturity. "Significantly, only birds in good condition produce eggs. Hungry or stressed wild birds do not produce eggs so this is a strong indication of the success of the project," Walters added. The announcement that eggs had been laid -- the first in the wild since 1832 -- was delayed because of fears of egg thieves and disturbance from bird watchers and the location is being kept secret. The Great Bustard, known as a shy and secretive bird, became extinct in Britain in the 1840s due to hunting. There are thought to be only about 35,000 in the world. Birds from Russia were reintroduced to Britain in 2004 under a programme licenced by the government after attempts to breed chicks in captivity and release them failed. A number of birds are released on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, south-west England, in the British autumn and winter and return there each spring. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: MMario Date: 26 Jul 07 - 01:21 PM HUZZAH! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 26 Jul 07 - 01:26 PM I'm glad to hear it, and I hope the birds are able to become re-established. There's a special place in hell for egg collectors who would steal the eggs of rare birds struggling to survive. Dante wrote about it, I think. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: katlaughing Date: 26 Jul 07 - 01:31 PM Kind of pretty in their own way. Good for them! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: beardedbruce Date: 26 Jul 07 - 01:33 PM I guess we should call them "lucky bustards" |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: beardedbruce Date: 26 Jul 07 - 01:34 PM Or maybe "Stonehenge Hens" |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: MMario Date: 26 Jul 07 - 01:53 PM The first in the wild since 1832 in the British Isles; there are extent wild populations in other parts of Europe, including Portugal, Hungary and Russia |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: Wolfgang Date: 26 Jul 07 - 05:53 PM It (nearly) always makes me happy if an animal comes back to where it once lived. We have seen in recent years a comeback of lynxes (with human help) of wolves (by themselves), of moose (European type) and even of one bear (he was shot for being a danger to humans). It doesn't make me happy that we have a comeback of vultures this year. They come since they are starving due to the recent EU regulation that (for human health reasons) it is now forbidden to leave dead animals on the fields. Wolfgang |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: Sorcha Date: 26 Jul 07 - 07:10 PM They look kinda like the US Wild Turkey. Not at all like a buzzard which was sort of what I was expecting! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: Ebbie Date: 26 Jul 07 - 08:04 PM The photo reminds me too of the US Wild Turkey- apparently with the mannerisms of a grouse. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: Sorcha Date: 26 Jul 07 - 08:15 PM I beat you, Ebbie! LOL |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: GUEST,bill the sound Date: 26 Jul 07 - 08:17 PM We've always had them - you just got to learn to spell. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Britain gets bustards! From: Bert Date: 26 Jul 07 - 09:10 PM Yer right Sorha, kinda like a cross between a turkey and a goose. |
