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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Birds breed again after 400 years | Birds breed again after 400 years |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Cranes have been found breeding in the fens of East Anglia after 400 years. | Cranes have been found breeding in the fens of East Anglia after 400 years. |
| The Suffolk wetland which the birds are nesting in was a carrot field until the RSPB turned it into Lakenheath Fen Nature Reserve, 11 years ago. | The Suffolk wetland which the birds are nesting in was a carrot field until the RSPB turned it into Lakenheath Fen Nature Reserve, 11 years ago. |
| Large-scale drainage of fens for agriculture had led to the birds' disappearance in the 1600s. | Large-scale drainage of fens for agriculture had led to the birds' disappearance in the 1600s. |
| RSPB chief executive Graham Wynne said the arrival of the birds came ahead of plans to make further wetland reserves in the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire fens. | RSPB chief executive Graham Wynne said the arrival of the birds came ahead of plans to make further wetland reserves in the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire fens. |
| COMMON CRANE (Grus Grus) Wingspan: 180-240cm Weight: 4.5-6kg Global population: 220,000 | |
| The RSPB plans to create 20 sq miles (51 sq km) of wetlands in the fens over the next 20 years. | The RSPB plans to create 20 sq miles (51 sq km) of wetlands in the fens over the next 20 years. |
| Mr Wynne said: "The arrival of cranes at Lakenheath Fen is fantastic news for the future of this species in the UK. | Mr Wynne said: "The arrival of cranes at Lakenheath Fen is fantastic news for the future of this species in the UK. |
| "It is also testimony to the truly inspirational work done at the site - we have gone from carrot fields to cranes in 11 years. | "It is also testimony to the truly inspirational work done at the site - we have gone from carrot fields to cranes in 11 years. |
| "Their decision to nest on the reserve was totally unexpected, very exciting and completely wonderful." | "Their decision to nest on the reserve was totally unexpected, very exciting and completely wonderful." |
| A new visitor centre at Lakenheath Fen Nature Reserve opened on Thursday. | A new visitor centre at Lakenheath Fen Nature Reserve opened on Thursday. |