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Choughs Released in West Cornwall
A group of Choughs has been released in West Cornwall as part of a project to re-establish the species in the area. This has been long in the planning - 'Operation Chough' was started in 1987 at Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary in Hayle, with the aim of getting this red-billed crow back to the cliffs of Cornwall, where it had become extinct.
Choughs first flight August 2003
First release put on hold
After five years of research to examine why the Chough disappeared, pairs
were set up in breeding aviaries at Paradise Park. They are difficult
to breed in captivity but in 2001 enough birds were available, and continued
monitoring of Cornwall's coastal habitat indicated that a release could
be successful. However, Foot and Mouth Disease struck and all footpaths
closed, just when access to the coast path was needed to monitor released
birds. Then at the same time, and to the astonishment of all, three wild
Choughs arrived in the Lizard area of Cornwall. Over the years occasional
single birds had passed through, but these three stayed, found food through
the winter months and the pair successfully fledged three chicks in Spring
2002. They followed this with two more chicks in 2003.
Supplementing the wild birds
This great success proved that the habitat can support Choughs, and that
they are not disturbed by people on the coast path. But there are just
eight birds, five are siblings and only one is known to be female. Operation
Chough does not believe that this constitutes a viable genetic group in
the long-term.
Male Chough in the evening sun
West Cornwall has been chosen as it is a historic
site for the species, and is far enough away from the Lizard so that the
birds there are not disturbed. The six birds to be released have been
DNA tested to prove their ancestry, and thoroughly health checked. They
are two pairs and two further females, a ratio chosen because the three
chicks hatched at the Lizard in 2002 are all believed to be males - and
they may soon be looking for mates.
Update on progress
| The released birds are being monitored, helped by radio tracking devices. A total of six birds are available for this release, with the first four leaving the specially built aviary at 3pm on a warm, bright day. For the first two nights three birds stayed together, with one about a mile from them. By the third day out all four had met up. So far they have not travelled far but are flying strong circuits of their local area, which will familiarise them with their surroundings. All have been observed foraging and finding food and water, and they have also taken supplementary food. Eventually the West Cornwall Choughs may meet the others already in the Duchy. Mike Reynolds, founder of Paradise Park, says 'We have prepared the birds for this over a long period, and are doing all we can to support them. These Choughs still have a lot to learn, and we wish them luck - they could make all the difference in creating a thriving population of Cornish Choughs in ten years time.' |
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Operation Chough newsletters
Summer 2003 (.pdf format) Click here.
Aug 2003 (.pdf format) Click here.
Dec 2003 (.pdf format) Click here.
Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary, Hayle Cornwall TR27
4HB, UK
www.paradisepark.org.uk
