We were staring intently into a quadrat whilst immersed in a vegetation survey on the upper rewilding field when Mike’s face suddenly glazed over and a look of excited intent spread across his face as he cocked his head slightly to one side.
“Did you hear that?” “Have you got the Merlin app on you?” A couple of us duly obliged without asking what he’d caught wind of but we were too far away for the app to pick up what kind of bird was producing the shrill, high pitched, repetitive “tsiu’s”
I ventured further stumbling and winding my way through the nettles and scrub closer to the cycle path with my phone comically held up towards the sound which was repeating in faint bursts every ten seconds or so. Still nothing on my phone screen as I tried to tiptoe as silently as possible closer still.
Another bibibibibibibibi and a glance at the screen and there were the two words we’d been waiting to see – Cirl Bunting!
I turned to Mike and beamed and gave him the thumbs up and his face mirrored mine. I found my way back through the undergrowth and said “I think you know what two words I’m going to say Mike?!” “Cirl Bunting!” He grinned.
It’s not often that such instant gratification comes in what can sometimes be a generations long process of rewilding and it felt like a big win and also some reassurance that what’s happening here on the farm is a move in the right direction for nature and the staff, volunteers and trainees working together towards building a more abundant future.
✍ Chris Clark – Nature Recovery Trainee Spring 2024
*The Cirl Bunting, a small songbird with distinctive yellow and black markings, has seen its population in the UK recover significantly due to targeted conservation efforts, particularly in southern Devon. These efforts include habitat management practices such as maintaining hedgerows and planting seed-rich crops, which have helped stabilize and increase their numbers.
📸 Photo by Jordi Rubies on Unsplash