Country diary: A species brought to the edge of extinction, recovering in the fens | Mark Cocker
The great egret, a species once nearly driven to extinction by the fashion industry, is making a significant recovery in the fens of Cambridgeshire. The author reflects on the bird's presence in a landscape altered by climate change and drought.
Why it matters
It highlights the resilience of biodiversity and the success of conservation efforts in restoring species to their historical habitats.
A great egret at Ouse Fen. ‘Then a bird would fly, the white rope of its neck rising, followed by a ragged cloak of wings, turning eventually to the stolid beat of heavy flight.’ Photograph: Mark Cocker A great egret at Ouse Fen. ‘Then a bird would fly, the white rope of its neck rising, followed by a ragged cloak of wings, turning eventually to the stolid beat of heavy flight.’ Photograph: Mark Cocker Country diary Birds Country diary: A species brought to the edge of extinction, recovering in the fens Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire: The great egret’s story is remarkable, as is the conversion of this low-grade agricultural land into one of the richest wetlands in Britain
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