Bittern rescued from North London road

The bittern rescued from a road in Enfield. Photo Sue Fulford.

Known as the "fenman's turkey" roast bittern was once a common meal in this country and would have been part of Christmas dinner until the bird became extinct in the late 19th Century as a result of being hunted for food and the rapid loss and drainage of wetland habitat.

UK Comeback
Bitterns with their spectacular booming call are now making a come-back in the UK, so every bird is critical to the population.

Found on a road in Enfield!
This bittern was found on 23 December stunned and disorientated on a road in the Enfield area of London. Following a phone call from a member of the public he was rescued by the Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton.

WWT London
After returning the bittern to full health the Swan Sanctuary asked WWT London Wetland Centre to help release it back into the wild. Bitterns need ponds and lakes that are free of ice so that they can catch fish and it is likely that during the UK's unusually cold December this one had struggled to find a suitable feeding spot.

It was released at London Wetland Centre on Christmas Eve as the Centre is an ideal place for these members of the heron family. There's a plentiful supply of fish and dense reed beds for the birds to hide in. Up to five bitterns have been spotted on the reserve in one day so far this winter, proving that the Centre is a vital feeding and resting place for these birds.

Swan Sanctuary - Europe's largest waterfowl hospital
Dorothy Beeson BEM, founder of the Swan Sanctuary, said "We chose London Wetland Centre as the place to release this bittern as we wanted to offer it the best environment. It is invaluable to have a wetland reserve in the middle of the capital which is an oasis for wildlife."

Adam Salmon, the Centre's Reserve Manager, said "In winter bitterns will move around seeking unfrozen water with plenty of cover to shelter in nearby. As these birds are already threatened by habitat loss, winter can be particularly tough as they try to find food. Bitterns at London Wetland Centre may have come here from all over the UK and often the continent from places like the Netherlands."

The Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton is Europe’s largest waterfowl hospital. Founded by Dorothy Beeson BEM, the sanctuary is a registered charity dedicated to the care and treatment of swans and waterfowl. Further information can be found at www.theswansanctuary.org.uk . 

London Wetland Centre is also a haven for large numbers of ducks, with flocks of over 300 teal and tufted duck on site. The reserve is also a nationally important wintering ground for shoveler and gadwall, making it a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).