First choughs chicks in far west of Cornwall for nearly 150 Years
01/07/2008 12:14:43
Nest site marks new chapter in Cornish re-colonisation
June 2008. Conservationists are thrilled that a new nest site has produced a brood of wild chough chicks on National Trust land in the far West of Cornwall - the first time they have bred there in nearly 150 years. Partners of the Cornish Chough Project are heralding this as a significant chapter in the natural re-colonisation of Cornwall's iconic bird.
Jon Brookes, National Trust Manager for West Penwith says: "We are thrilled with this new development in our ongoing efforts to encourage the natural re-colonisation of the chough to Cornwall. A new pair breeding in the west of the county is great news and their success is down to the local farmers and the RSPB volunteers who put in all the time and effort into safeguarding the nests from disturbance."
Choughs in Cornwall
Choughs naturally returned to Cornwall in 2001 after a long absence, thanks to land management efforts made by local farmers and landowners like the National Trust and English Nature. In 2002, a pair of choughs bred for the first time in Cornwall for more than 50 years. Since then this pair have nested each year - raising 28 youngsters. Another milestone was reached in 2006 (and again in 2007) when a second pair (a male offspring of the Lizard pair, and an incoming wild female) successfully bred raising 3 young.
Choughs on the Lizard - 4 female chicks
To add to this success story, for the seventh year in succession, the Lizard choughs have successfully raised a brood of four chicks and this year they are all girls.
Claire Mucklow from the RSPB who manages the Cornwall Chough Project says: "Each year we hope the Lizard pair will breed again and so far they have not disappointed us. They are model parents and continue to produce strong healthy chicks but we are particularly pleased with this year's brood because we need more females or ‘girl power' in the population."
For more information on the Cornwall Chough Project or to report your sighting if you see a chough please email cornishchoughs@rspb.org.uk
Where to see choughs in Cornwall
