‘As habitat for wild populations becomes increasingly altered by human

activities, conservationists are relying more on meta-population

management, where many populations in small reserves (and breeding

centers) are managed as a whole to preserve genetic diversity.’

~ The Conservation Behaviorist Vol. 2, No. 2, November 2004.

Blackbrook, with its naturalistic enclosures and 80 acres of beautiful Staffordshire countryside, has become such a zoo-based model of conservation.

The development of captive enclosures which meet the behavioural, welfare and features of the animal’s natural environment is ever present in the history of Blackbrook since it was bought as a Rundown Farm Park in 1991 by mother and son team Diana Wilcox and Mark Rubery.

Blackbrook’s marsh and moor land was selected as being ideal for wetland & aquatic species, and therefore management of the natural environment has been an integral part of the park’s successful breeding of many notoriously difficult to breed species of bird.

 Existing water courses were diverted into the land for the development of lakes and streams, while Native Flora such as willow, reeds and grass species were restored as part of Blackbrook’s ecosystem management. Agricultural Flora such as our variety of butterfly attracting Buddleia has been planted to continually build upon the foundation of this ecosystem.

Mimicking nature in such a way, coupled with a park designed to minimise animal stress response on a landscape which promotes conservation-based activities by for example; establishing species norms; meeting enrichment needs; providing opportunities to perform normal behaviours; and well practised olfactory management, has allowed the creation of a landscape which attracts and provides refuge to all of the species at Blackbrook.

The success of captive breeding at Blackbrook can be attributed to the successful behavioural management and our conservation efforts directly linked to the ecology of the landscape at Blackbrook.  

Our pair of Great Sandhill Cranes bred for the first time in Blackbrook history this year; 2011, and what better way to show us that they are happy with the ecosystem on which we have built a glorious and perfectly suited habitat for them!

The Crane Model to understanding Conservation-Based Activities at Blackbrook:

Establishing species norm

All of our Cranes live with their mate; giving each pair the undisturbed half acre of territory it has been observed necessary in the wild for them to comfortably mate and subsequently breed - yet so not to prevent natural flocking behaviour the enclosures have been grouped together to allow species norms, such as bugling to one another and performing dancing displays, to be established.

The enclosures have been strategically divided with mesh ‘see through’ fencing so that pairs are aware of the presence of other Crane pairs, yet the planting of perfectly sized evergreen coniferous trees – just tall enough to allow a private setting for breeding, but small enough to allow the Cranes to see other pairs above the height of the trees – ensures that the existence of pairs does not become a solitary one; thus mimicking wild species behaviour. This obstacle of mimicking the breeding norms of Cranes, who live in large groups for a large proportion of the year but become solitary pairs when preparing to mate and incubate and raise their young, is overcome by this careful captive habitat design and management which allows pairs to behave as part of a flock whilst at the same time giving them a private setting to breed in the solitude of their naturalistic enclosure. Establishing species norms such as flock formation is an activity relevant to conservation because communicating with other pairs as well as with each other strengthens the bond between a pair because by mimicking the group composition prevalent in the wild as much as possible, male cranes will – as their wild counterparts would - feel it necessary to protect their status as their female’s mate, therefore the partnership is constantly reaffirmed by such territorial displays and subsequently the chances of a pair successful breeding is increased.  

Meeting enrichment needs

Enrichment based conservation activities promote reproduction by improving behavioural competence. The Cranes captive environment has been specifically adapted to promote psychological wellbeing and therefore motivated birds who exhibit normal and expected species behaviour. We have already discussed above how appropriate conspecific companions are provided for our Crane pairs, and how the success of this provision directly correlates to breeding potential and thus breeding success. A further important ‘motivation’ relevant to breeding is the need to find biological resources in the form of suitable nesting material. Of course it is the responsibility of the zoo to ensure that suitable nesting material is available to the birds every year, otherwise they will not be able to fulfil any existing desire to reproduce and as a result abnormal behaviours may manifest with the blockade of the development of innate needs. At Blackbrook captive Crane habitats are designed around the development of lakes and streams from existing water courses in the land, and the restoration of native Flora around these wetland areas ensures that ample wet vegetation is available for our Crane pairs to locate suitable resources to build their nests as they would do in the wild; in the sole safety of their mates company and their enclosure.

Managing Stress Response

Stress is directly linked to reproduction behaviour. To minimise the stress of the Crane’s captive environment, our birds are situated away from any animals they may interpret as predatory. Whilst all our enclosures have high netted roofs which are designed specifically to give an ‘open sky’ impression and thus provide habitat enrichment, the disadvantage of such a design means that birds of prey flying above the enclosure are interpreted as threatening and can therefore effect reproductive behaviour including egg incubation and rearing of young. To prevent this evergreen trees and large spreading shrubs provide natural shelter and protection from such perceived threats, so that the Cranes interpret the habitat as suitable to reproduce. Surrounding their enclosures continues the naturalistic landscape of Blackbrook, on which various species of birds and waterfowl roam alongside them. There immediate and extended created habitat therefore mimics the levels and moors on which they would naturally select to roost and breed. The solitary half acre of territory that it has being observed Cranes interpret as sufficient space and therefore resources to reproduce, coupled with the restoration of long grass species and planting of appropriate Agriculture Flora based on the origin of each species, ensures that the immediate captive environment does not become a source of stress. Enclosures are longer in length than width, which means that in proportion to the enclosure as a whole the area in which visitors can actually view/interact with the birds is minimal, allowing them a safe retreat from any human disturbance if they choose to do so. Only one end of the enclosure faces onto a public enclosure so three of its four ‘walls’ create a barrier of solitude of safety which is particular necessary during the breeding season. Noise from any source outside of the zoo grounds such as road traffic is avoided by location of the Crane enclosures within the confines of the park.