First crane chick at wetland centre in three years

The crane chick was the first to hatch at the centre in three years

A common crane chick has hatched for the first time in three years at a wetland centre.

It is just the second to hatch to its parents, who have been at WWT Washington Wetland Centre, near Sunderland, since 2008.

The adult pair were originally hatched in the Netherlands and moved to Washington in the early stages of the Great Crane Project, which has seen the bird successfully integrated to the UK.

WWT Washington's collection team manager, Dan Morrison, said it was "great to know that they're still happy and healthy" at the site after 17 years.

In the wild, common cranes form monogamous pairs for life, breeding from around four to five years old, the centre said.

The crane family are not currently on show while they bond

The pair in Washington are now 18 years old, breeding only for the very first time in 2022 when they successfully hatched a young female.

The second chick followed months of flirting, nest building and prospecting towards the back of the centre's stream exhibit where they finally laid and incubated the egg.

Mr Morrison said: "As an amber-listed species in the UK, we're chuffed with the arrival of the young crane chick.

"The adults have been here since they were just one year old, so 17 years later it's great to know that they're still happy and healthy here.

"It's great knowing that our cranes have produced healthy youngsters that will go on to thrive in other parts of the UK."

The centre said the crane family are currently off-show, which will allow them to bond in a quiet and protected environment.