Current status
The bittern is a declining, localised and rare breeding species. It is confined almost entirely to lowland marshes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Lancashire dominated by the common reed Phragmites australis, where it feeds principally on fish and amphibians. The UK population had declined to fifteen or sixteen booming males in 1994 from a peak of 70 pairs in the late 1960s, when it bred in eight counties. Numbers are boosted in winter by continental immigrants (usually less than 100).
The bittern is listed on Annex 1 of the EC Birds Directive and Appendix III of the Bern Convention. It is protected in the UK under Schedule 1 of the WCA 1981 and Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.
Current factors causing loss or decline
Loss of suitable large reedbeds through seral succession, inappropriate management (particularly drainage and water abstraction) and fragmentation.
Degradation of habitat through water pollution, pesticide and heavy metal pollution.
Food availability, especially of eels, affected by inappropriate habitat management and pollution.
Salt water intrusion into coastal reedbeds.
Problems due to small population size.
Current action
A high proportion of remaining bittern sites are protected as nature reserves.
Detailed studies on bittern ecology have been carried out by the RSPB, leading to a greater understanding of habitat requirements.
Management work has been carried out by statutory agencies and NGOs to restore and re-create suitable
reedbed habitat for bitterns.
English Nature launched its Bittern Recovery Project, with funding available to landowners and NGOs for reedbed management and restoration.
Improved monitoring of populations has been achieved through voice pattern analysis.
Action plan objectives and targets
Arrest the decline of the bittern, maintaining at least 20 booming birds.
Start to increase the population before the year 2000.
Arrest the decline of the bittern, maintaining its present range.
Start to increase the range before the year 2000.
Increase the population to 50 booming males by 2010.
Achieve a population of not less than 100 booming males by 2020.
Increase the number of sites containing booming males to 22 by 2010.
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
Implement initiatives for the creation and management of large scale
reedbeds on agricultural land. (ACTION: NE)
Implement water abstraction policies which give priority to nature conservation sites. (ACTION: NRA, IDBs)
Protect freshwater sites of high conservation importance from seawater incursion. (ACTION: NRA)
Promote, in development plans, appropriate conditions of after-use for sand and gravel extraction sites which would favour reedbed development. (ACTION: LAs, DoE)
Consider developing environmental land management schemes to include prescriptions and incentives for reedbed restoration and management. (ACTION: CC, CCW, NE, MAFF)
Promote the development and enhancement of suitable bittern habitats in relevant catchment management plans and water level management plans. (ACTION: NRA, IDBs)
Site safeguard and management
Protect any sites which are important for bitterns, having regard to the significance of formal and informal site designations when considering any proposed developments. (ACTION: LAs, DoE, NE, NRA)
Facilitate reedbed restoration through collaborative projects and appropriate wetland strategies, to maintain wet conditions and prevent scrub encroachment in existing reedbeds. (ACTION: CCW, NE, NRA)
Seek to ensure appropriate management for this species, of reedbeds currently within designated areas. (ACTION: CCW, NE)
Promote the creation of new reedbeds on suitable sites such as surplus agricultural land, mineral extraction sites, etc. (ACTION: DoE, LAs)
Species management and protection
Consider supplementary feeding in severe winters. (ACTION: CCW, NE)
Determine current food supply on key sites and manage accordingly. (ACTION: CCW, NE)
Advisory
Advise reedbed owners and managers of bittern requirements in order to promote appropriate management for this species. (ACTION: NE)
Future Research and Monitoring
Monitor the UK population annually. (ACTION: NE)
Monitor reedbed habitats and food availability at key bittern sites, in conjunction with NGOs. (ACTION: CCW, NE)
Ensure that any bittern corpses or addled eggs are analysed for heavy metals and pesticides. (ACTION: CCW, NE)
In conjunction with NGOs, produce assessments of the suitability and management of key reedbeds for bitterns, to identify the main features of each site and the principal actions required to improve or maintain them. (ACTION: CCW, NE)
Promote further research into habitat use, suitability and the requirements of this species in the UK. (ACTION: CCW, NE)
Pass information gathered during survey and monitoring of this species to JNCC or BRC so that it can be incorporated in national databases. (ACTION: CCW, NE)
Provide information annually to Birdlife International on the UK status of the species to contribute to maintenance of an up-to-date global red list. (ACTION: JNCC)
Communications and Publicity
Use this species to promote the importance of reedbeds and their conservation. (ACTION: CCW, NE)
Links with other action plans
None given.
Publication details
Originally published in: Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report - Volume II: Action Plans (December 1995, Tranche 1, Vol 2, p98)
Related links
ARKive Visit the ARKive website to view images and further information relating to this species