Scientists have revealed that they are studying the droppings of great bustards to help understand the birds’ diet and boost their chances of survival in the UK.

Since 2004, the LIFE+ Great Bustard Reintroduction Project, a partnership with the RSPB and Natural England, has been attempting to establish a self-sustaining population of the birds in southern England.

University of Bath scientist Dr Kate Ashbrook is collecting droppings of the released birds to monitor what they prefer eating and how their diet changes through the year.

The rest of this article appears in the 2nd January issue of Shooting Times.

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