VISITORS to Stonehenge are being asked to keep their eyes peeled for a Great Bustard which has been spotted close to Stonehenge.
Great Bustards – known as the world’s heaviest bird – was hunted to extinction in the country, with the last bustard shot in 1832.
The Great Bustard Group (GBG) has been releasing hundreds of chicks on Salisbury Plain since 2013 as part of a project to protect this vulnerable species.
Gertie is one of the chicks who has made a comeback, and she has been spotted hanging out in front of the neolithic stones.
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A Stonehenge spokesperson said: “Special visitor alert! Meet Gertie the Great Bustard.
“Once extinct in the UK, this majestic bird has made a comeback to Salisbury Plain thanks to dedicated conservation efforts.
“Spotting Gertie is a rare treat! If you do see her near the stones, please zoom in with your camera and keep a respectful distance.”
An adult great bustard can be up to a metre (3ft) tall and weigh up to 44lb (20kg). Its wingspan can reach nearly eight feet (2.4m).
The bustard’s size made it an easy target for hunters, leading to its extinction.
The GBG said the population is growing thanks to successful breeding.
“The first nest was located in 2007, and the first chicks in 2009,” a spokesperson said.
“In 2022 we located over 20 nests, but there are undoubtedly more.
“Approximately one third of the UK population is wild bred and parent reared in Wiltshire; the rest being hand reared birds from either Russia or Spain.
“The GBG has released birds at three different locations across south Wiltshire, some 10 to 15 miles apart and there is some interchange between the groups. All three groups are successfully breeding, and the population is growing.”
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