New enclosure for African birds

8:50am Saturday 30th August 2008

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Three African Crown Cranes have been released into a new enclosure at WWT Martin Mere, near Chorley, re-uniting a family that was originally born at the centre four years ago.

Martin Mere has only had one African Crown Crane for a number of years.

The bird's mate died after they successfully bred in 2004, producing the first and only African Crown Crane chick that has ever been successfully born at the centre in Burscough.

Earlier this year the centre received a female crane from Harewood House in Leeds and moved it into the current enclosure.

Staff had to temporarily relocate the male so it could enter the female territory to breed.

In the next week, staff at Martin Mere will re-release the male back into its enclosure as well as two further young African Crown Cranes in a separate enclosure.

Ironically, one of the young cranes is actually the son of the male crane born in 2004, relocated here from WWT Slimbridge and bringing the family back together again.

Grounds manager, Julia Meldrum, said: “It is great to see the crane family re-united at Martin Mere, especially as the younger male was born here at the Centre.

"We hope that all the cranes will settle in well and we are looking forward to next year to see if we can breed the cranes again.“ The new enclosure in the African area is the next part of a major development in the last year which has seen new species of waterfowl released such as the Falkland Island Flying Steamer Duck and Screamers.

WWT Martin Mere is open every day from 9.30am to 5.30pm and parking is free of charge.

Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58 and M6.

The centre is also accessible via the Southport to Manchester and the Liverpool to Preston line by train from Burscough Rail Stations. Visit the website www.wwt.org.uk/visit/martinmere/ to find out what’s on all year round at Martin Mere and the other eight centres.