Crossbill numbers soaring in Kielder

Possibly the biggest breeding population in the country

March 2011: Nature lovers are flocking to Kielder Water & Forest Park to see a spectacle of nature. Thousands of crossbills have appeared in Kielder Water and Forest Park in Northumberland.

CONE FEAST: Crossbills have been attracted to Kielder by this year's succesful cone crop.

The birds, which may now constitute the biggest breeding population in the country, have been attracted to the 62,000 hectare wilderness by the abundance of seed offered by an excellent cone crop this year.

Once chicks fledge the bird often forms noisy family groups or larger flocks flying close to treetop height and feeding acrobatically, fluttering from cone to cone. Male crossbills have a distinctive brick-red hue, while females are greenish-brown, all adding a dash of colour to the forest.

‘Getting such large numbers is very special indeed'
Martin Davison, Forestry Commission ornithologist who has worked in Kielder for more than 30 years monitoring and protecting bird life, said: ‘Some years the bird fails to show up at all, so getting such large numbers is very special. It all depends on how good the cone crop is and this year it is very good indeed.

‘It's impossible to say how many have arrived, but a guess could put it as high as 10,000 pairs. That could be the biggest breeding population in the country at the moment.'

Crossbills have chicks in January and February, which take to the wing this month. By the of May they begin to leave, so those wishing to take a look for themselves should make the trip sooner rather than later. Look out for the bird hanging upside down like a parrot stripping seed from cones.