Bittern found wandering on road released at Leighton Moss

David Mower RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve warden and Sonia Hulme RSPCA animal collection officer. Credit Mike Malpass.

February 2009. One of Britain's rarest and most elusive birds has been rescued by the RSPCA after it was seen walking along a road in Bamber Bridge, near Preston.

The magnificent black and gold-coloured bittern was spotted by a member of the public in Bamber Bridge on Saturday January 24. The member of the public immediately contacted the RSPCA and an animal collection officer took the bird to RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre near Nantwich in Cheshire.

Very underweight
The bird was examined and found to be uninjured but considerably underweight at only 900g; it is believed it had been unable to find sufficient food during the recent cold weather snap. RSPCA staff fed it a hearty diet of sprats (small fish similar to herring) and, by early February, it increased to a healthier weight of 1200g.

Leighton Moss
The bittern is now due to be released at the largest remaining reed bed in the north-west of England at RSPB Leighton Moss Nature Reserve in Silverdale, Carnforth on Friday February 20.

RSPCA animal collection officer (ACO) Sonia Hulme said: "This was a very special rescue for me as bitterns are so incredibly rare. When I came to collect it I was stunned by how beautiful it was - I have never come close to such a rare species before and to be involved in its rescue and rehabilitation was a dream come true."

Dr. Andrew Kelly, manager of RSPCA Stapeley Grange said: "It is fantastic to have been able to rescue this rare and enigmatic bird and get it back to full health; for species like the bittern every individual one counts. We don't know whether it is one of the breeding birds from Leighton Moss or a winter visitor from elsewhere. Either way, the RSPCA and RSPB will work together to ensure it is safely released back in to the wild. Hopefully it will integrate with the population at Leighton Moss and survive well."

Extinct in the UK 100 years ago
Although the bittern was once widespread across the UK, it became extinct as a British nesting bird between 1886 and 1911 due to the drainage of wetlands and persecution. The population has recovered to some extent following much conservation work to rejuvenate old reed beds and create new ones.

Robin Horner, Site Manager at RSPB Leighton Moss said: "The bittern is certainly one of the UK's rarest birds, and it's wonderful that this one has been found and looked after to allow it to be released back in to the wild.

Bittern to be released at Leighton Moss.