Eberswalde, The Brandenburg State Office for Environment together with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux – all partners of the LIFE Co-op project – have released a new handbook for bittern (Botaurus stellaris) conservation.

The handbook is primarily a practical manual, having been written by ecologists and practitioners with conservationists in mind. It presents the latest research results, as well as guidelines, techniques and methods of bittern protection and habitat management from across Europe. Additionally the handbook will hopefully guide and inspire people towards a strategic approach to the conservation of wetlands and the bittern in particular.

The Bittern is a medium-sized heron. It is a shy and secretive bird, which is more often heard than see. It is generally associated with reedbeds and its plumage is the perfect camouflage for its reedy home. The bittern is distributed throughout the entire palearctic in the warmer boreal and temperate zones from western Europe through Central Russia to the Pacific. The current breeding population is relatively small (<54,000 pairs) due to human persecution and the loss of semi-natural habitat, mainly drainage of wetlands.

The European populations of the Great Bittern, is listed in the AEWA Action Plan in column A category 3 c, which means that the population numbers between around 25,000 and 100,000 individuals and is considered to be at risk as a result of showing extreme fluctuations in population sizes and trends. Thus the species is clearly of conservation concern. AEWA welcomes this new handbook which is a useful tool for conservationists.

The handbook is FREE and is available in both paper* and cd-rom format.
*Please note there will be a postage and packing (p&p) charge for paper copies of the handbook. For delivery within the UK, p&p will cost £2.00 for up to 3 handbooks. For delivery outside of the UK, p&p will cost £7.85 per handbook.

Please send orders to: Publications, The RSPB, Unit 17, St Martins Business Centre, St Martins Way, Bedford MK42 0LF, or email publications@rspb.org.uk, telephone 01234 263616 or fax 01234 263618.

Please specify which format you require: paper (ref. 24-282) or cd-rom (ref. 24-284) and include cheque or payment card details for any p&p charges.

A pdf version of the Handbook can be accessed at the webpage http://www.bitterns.org.uk/ by choosing Links on the menu bar and then clicking on the Bittern in Europe link.