A video of a rare bird filmed at a pond in Jersey has garnered global attention.
A bittern, also known as ‘the ghost bird’ and Britain’s loudest bird, was captured on a trail camera at the Wetland Centre in St Ouen by photographer John Ovenden.
The National Trust Jersey stated that the video got 237,000 views on social media and was viewed by individuals in Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
Bitterns were “driven to extinction” in the 19th century due to destroyed wetland habitats, but in April 2024, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reported a 24% rise in their numbers, representing a “significant conservation achievement”.
‘Growth in numbers’
It is stated that the Trust reported a male bittern’s “boom” can be heard up to three miles (4.8km) away in spring.
One of the UK’s top spots for spotting bitterns is probably the wetland centre. Although we currently only see two male bitterns each year, the organization is optimistic that with the growing number of bitterns in the UK, we will eventually hear their distinctive boom, as the males search for and find mates.
X
