Herons & Cormorants at Attenborough

So far we've made two visits to Attenborough Nature Reserve to monitor, and colour-ring the Grey Heron and Cormorant pulli. The herons are having a very mixed breeding season due to the very late and cold spring, with many failing at the egg stage and some abandoning large chicks. The winter flooding may have also affected their food supplies. Good news though is that we've ringed nine Grey Heron chicks, and quite a few pairs have re-laid. The Cormorants are quite varied too, with some sitting on eggs and others with large chicks. So far, seven Cormorant chicks have been colour-ringed. We'll be making several more visits to monitor what looks to be an extended breeding season.

Jim