Trip reports

"Great Bustard Project"

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

After AGM business, Tracé Williams of the RSPB told us about the Russian end of the Great Bustard project. The project was not initially supported by the RSPB because of lack of information about the Russian species population and habitat suitability. However in 2008 Tracé and colleagues set out for the Dyakovka field station in Saratov, south-east of Moscow. After an 18 hour journey in 42°, they arrived at a collection of ramshackle cottages which make up the field station.

Censuses were taken in spring and autumn and 50 great bustards recorded. After lekking the birds dispersed and were not seen again. The area has massive fields of cereals and the bustards rest in the crops. In April the stubble is ploughed in and the fields planted. No chemicals are used but the fields are cultivated several times to control weeds. Nests can be destroyed by this process. Old tractors were slow enough to stop and drive round the nests but this exposed them to predation. Newer tractors were too fast and destroyed nests, so eggs were collected and incubated at the field station. Chicks were hand reared for a month then put in a shed with an outdoor run and all human contact ceased. All birds sent to the UK are tested for health and fitness before making the journey.
So far 86 birds have been released and 18-20 are known to be still alive. The Great Bustard Group and the RSPB are now partners in the project to continue the re-introduction programme.

Tracé finished her talk by announcing that the first chick for 175 years had recently hatched in the UK, followed closely by 2 others.
Wonderful news to end the evening.