Cranes' UK Comeback: 250 Birds & Rising

0:00It's April 1st. This is Europe News today, AI-powered stories shaping Europe. I'm Cory with the story. Cranes in the UK just hit a major milestone with a record 87 breeding pairs raising 37 young last year, pushing the total. Population to around 250 birds. These tall birds, standing a meter high with 2 meter wingspanes, vanished from the country about 400 years ago due to hunting and lost. Wetlands The comeback started in the late 1970s with birds recolonizing from Europe plus heavy conservation work like protecting old habitats, building new ones, and even hand-rearing chicks by folks dressed up to mimic paring cranes. Conservationists are calling it a huge win, showing what teamwork can do for nature. Now flocks over a hundred strong gather in places like the Fens during winter, and the birds have spread as far as Scotland, where 10 pairs fledged, 9 chicks this year, up from 6 last year, efforts from groups like the RSPB and partners have created safe spots

1:03with over 80% of breeders on protected land, including reserves. With a cut reeds for nests and keep areas quiet, landowners and farmers help restore wetlands once drained for farming. While numbers are climbing, experts warn climate change threatens their homes so the push is on for bigger linked wetlands to keep this iconic. B.C.'s soaring strong.