Rare Bittern knocked down in Sussex (From The Argus)

Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.

News RSS Feed Send your news, pictures & videos

Rare Bittern knocked down in Sussex

1:20pm Saturday 6th March 2010 in News By Neil Vowles

Rare Bittern knocked down in Sussex

It’s not thought to have been in Ditchling for almost thirty years - and you can understand why.

Just minutes after popping its head out of undergrowth this poor Bittern, one of the country’s most threatened birds, was run over.

The heron-like bird was left needing urgent conservation after swooping in front of a pensioner’s Ford Ka.

Shocked driver, grandmother-of-five Jean Basterfield, said: “I saw him in the top of the windscreen as he was swooping up but he didn't rise quickly enough.

“I just though oh no I've hit a bird.

“When I saw it I thought it was dead and so I thought I would pick him up and take him home and bury him.

“I picked him up but then he moved so I gently put him back down again.”

The juvenile bird was taken to Roger's Wildlife Rescue in Woodingdean where it is now being nursed back to health.

Owner Roger Musselle, said: “The Bittern is doing very well.

“It came to us in pretty good condition although one of its toes was broken halfway down and is hanging loose and we'll have to amputate it.

“It's on the red list of rare birds, it's such a rare bird that I haven't had one in before and it's a learning curve for me.

“Hopefully we will be able to release it at Rye Harbour next week, that will be a better place than Ditchling Common for it.”

Comments(9)

RickH says...
2:18pm Sat 6 Mar 10

"The heron-like bird was left needing urgent conservation after swooping in front of a pensioner’s Ford Ka."

Conservation? Treatment is probably way better a word to use.