Crane webcam goes live
Internet users have a unique chance to see live video from a historic bird nest being streamed onto their computers and mobile devices.
A pair of four feet tall cranes at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire, are attempting to hatch and raise the first crane chick in the west of Britain for 400 years. Click here to watch them live - turning the egg, seeing off potential predators and sharing the egg-sitting duties.
The crane parents – who researchers have named Monty and Chris - are expected to hatch one or maybe two eggs in the middle of May. They’re among just a handful of the once-common wetland birds that are breeding in Britain today.
The decline of the species is linked to hunting and the drainage of large areas of wetlands and hunting in the 16th century.
WWT Head of Conservation Breeding Nigel Jarrett said:
“Over the last four years, through the Great Crane Project’s reintroduction programme, we’ve reared and released almost 80 cranes on the Somerset Moors and Levels. The birds venture out across the South West and several have made Slimbridge their home.
“We’re really rooting for Monty and Chris. They paired up last summer as a young pair and even produced an egg, but they were hit by bad weather and sadly the chick didn’t survive. We’re crossing fingers for better conditions for them this year.
“Monty and Chris have nested in an excellent spot, in clear view of one of Slimbridge’s hides and they are under round the clock observation. Recently there have been up to 20 wild cranes visiting the Slimbridge reserve, giving some of the best crane watching in the country.”
The Great Crane Project is a partnership between WWT, RSPB and Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, with major funding from Viridor Credits Environmental Company. Our aim is to restore healthy populations of wild cranes throughout the UK, so that people can once again experience these beautiful birds.
Slimbridge crane webcam is sponsored by Avios. Avios is one of the UK's leading travel rewards programmes
