The bittern has made a remarkable comeback from near-extinction in the UK following targeted reedbed creation. The distinctive booming call is once again heard across East Anglia and beyond.
Bitterns that cannot find adequate reedbed habitat face constant energetic stress and failed breeding attempts. During severe winters when reeds freeze, bitterns that cannot access open water suffer starvation. The recovery of the UK bittern population from 11 to 170 booming males represents a welfare success story at population scale - each additional pair represents a breeding opportunity for individuals that previously had no suitable habitat in the UK.