Return of the King

It was once believed that the spirit of King Arthur lived in a chough, Cornwall’s ‘national bird’. Operation Chough aims for a sustainable free-living population of the ‘King of the Crows’ in Cornwall once again...

A bold new “naturalistic” approach to breeding choughs has proved remarkably successful. There is now fresh hope that, within three years, the release of a small flock of young birds will bring new blood to Cornwall’s single family of choughs.

Everyone was delighted in 2001 when a pair of choughs bred on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall. However in 2004, for the first time in more than fifty years, two pairs of choughs have raised chicks on the Cornish coast.

This second pair of birds has reared three young, having been established in their cliff top home by Operation Chough, at Paradise Park in Hayle.

A Wild Life
The parent birds were introduced into their aviary last year, and have been left to become as wild as possible. Operation Chough volunteer Paul Carter, has developed a remarkable regime of "wild food" feeding. The success of this pair of birds is the result of his constant dedication and attention to detail.

This second pair has suffered the same trials and tribulations of the breeding season as the birds on the Lizard. When the weather is harsh, the birds shelter from the storms. When it is fine they bask in the sunshine. The birds constantly probe for food, and are always on the alert for passing Peregrine Falcons or other dangers. They are in all respects wild birds, but for the thin netting of their aviary.

The choughs are established directly above the cliffs, and are in almost total isolation, watched over only by CCTV. It is a place where the birds can practice their survival skills - with the aviary as "natural" as possible. There is a small stream, rocks and bare earth, and several places to roost and nest. The birds are not fed in the way most aviary birds are. Their food is hidden for them to probe and find, just as they would in the wild.

The Bug Hunters
The food the choughs eat is also as natural as possible. Provided by Paul and his wife Dawn, during the breeding season they spent most of their daylight hours combing the cliffs and moors of West Penwith for food for the birds. This food consists mainly of ants, and ant eggs, woodlice, earwigs, centipedes and beetles. The birds also relish mealworms and crickets.

Local Support
Farmers Martin and Lewis Toman have also helped by joining in the bug hunt. They have added to the feast by providing organic cowpats. These are packed with nutritious bugs and larvae - ideal for growing chough chicks. The increase in organic farming will certainly be a factor in the restoration of choughs locally.

The adult birds have thrived on their varied, insect-based diet, proving this by rearing three healthy chicks - although one chick had a few worrying days. ‘Chuck’, as he was named, was ejected from the nest early and spent a week being fed by Paul, before being successfully reintegrated with his family.

These young birds are now as wild as can be. They have an acute awareness of their local environment, and we believe that they have all the necessary hunting skills to survive in the wild as a result of being given the correct ‘target prey’ as chicks.

Next year Operation Chough is planning to have more breeding aviaries (near the coast if possible), and to produce more chough chicks suitable for release.

Mix and hatch
The young birds from the Lizard group are now showing signs of spreading further afield, in search of partners which are sadly lacking. One of these birds is often seen around the Land’s End area.

Our hope is to provide these mates, and eventually ‘seed’ the coast of Cornwall with new breeding groups of choughs. We know the land can support them, the birds at the Lizard demonstrate this fact. It could be argued that the birds on the Lizard will eventually form a small colony of choughs, to naturally re-populate the region. However, they have just one matriarch - a single breeding female. Quite literally, all their eggs are in one basket. If the chough is to return to Cornwall, it urgently needs new blood to make it sustainable.

Operation Chough believes this group needs genetic diversity, and released birds can provide this vital element.

How to help the Cornish Chough
However, all of this requires support. You can help. Operation Chough does not receive any government funding - although we are seeking this - we urgently need help in the form of donations, building materials, or volunteers.

With this new natural method of chough rearing, we may soon see the King of the Crows back where he belongs - around the coast of Cornwall.

R B Hales, Operation Chough