The common snipe was once a symbol of the natural richness of Poland’s countryside. It now has a chance to re-establish itself along the Vistula, as eight chicks of this species hatched a few months ago at a breeding station in Lubusz. This is an important step towards the reintroduction of a bird whose national population disappeared 40 years ago. However, we will still have to wait for its permanent return to the wild.
The Great Bustard. A winged giant
It is hard to believe that such a massive bird can take to the air. Male great bustards can weigh as much as 16–18 kilograms, exceeding the weight of mute swans. Females are considerably smaller, weighing around 4–6 kilograms. Thanks to its size, the species is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world. It requires vast, open spaces, yet is sensitive to changes in its environment and finds it difficult to adapt to new conditions. The intensive development of agriculture over the last century has significantly altered farming practices, which has had a negative impact on the population of this species.
A symbol of Polish fields
People often forget that the agricultural landscape is also home to wild animals. Field margins, fallow land and diverse crops provide them with food and places to breed. The disappearance of such a magnificent inhabitant has impoverished our native wildlife and stands as a painful testament to the changes in the countryside. Today, the fight for its return also has another, deeper and symbolic significance. By protecting areas favourable to great bustards, we can help many less conspicuous species inhabiting the same environment.
Why did the great bustard disappear from Poland?
As recently as the 1960s, the Polish population was estimated at around 300 individuals, found primarily in Greater Poland and Western Pomerania. By the end of the following decade, only a few dozen remained. Agricultural machinery destroyed ground-nesting sites, pesticides reduced the availability of food, and hunting and poaching posed an additional threat. According to information cited by Prof. Leszek Jerzak of the University of Zielona Góra, the last confirmed breeding was recorded in 1986 near Pyrzyce. Later, individual birds were observed arriving from abroad, but the local population did not recover. The great bustard had been a resident of Polish fields for centuries. Its presence had been recorded since at least the 17th century.
Chełmoński’s ‘Dropie’. A longing for the native landscape
The memory of these birds has also survived in painting. In 1886, Józef Chełmoński painted ‘Dropie’; this was towards the end of his stay in France. According to the artist’s daughter’s memoirs, he was inspired by his observations of the birds foraging near Chaville, close to Versailles, where the family spent their holidays. The muted colours, hazy atmosphere and vast field create a sense of nostalgia, which expresses a longing for the Polish landscape. At the end of December, the painter sent the completed canvas to a competition organised by the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts in Warsaw; however, local critics did not receive it very favourably. Today, the painting is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
Lubusz breeding with German support
An attempt to save the great bustards was undertaken at the breeding station in Siemianice, which belonged to the Poznań Agricultural Academy. Unfortunately, its activities were cut short by tragedy. On the night of 13 December 1980, unknown perpetrators killed nine birds. Two years later, two more birds met a similar fate. The surviving great bustards were moved to Stobnica, but the attacks dealt a severe blow to the breeders’ efforts. The perpetrators were never found.
The latest efforts to reintroduce this species have been undertaken at the Great Bustard Breeding Station in Żółwin near Międzyrzecz, run by the Gorzów branch of the Polish Hunting Association. The eggs were brought from a German centre in Buckow, Brandenburg, where bustard conservation has been carried out for many years. The chicks are being looked after by Dr Ewa Burda and biology student Julia, who were previously trained at that centre. Expert support is provided by staff from the University of Zielona Góra, and the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Gorzów Wielkopolski is also participating in the project.
Great Bustard: from breeding to the wild
The carers now face further tasks: preparing the birds for independent life, selecting safe habitats and minimising threats. Cooperation with farmers will be essential, as the survival of future broods depends on their farming practices. The project can only be considered a success once the released bustards begin to breed successfully in the wild. Only future generations will enable this species to reclaim its permanent place in the Polish landscape.
Below is a short video about the newly hatched birds:
Source: lasy.gov.pl, uz.zgora.pl
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