THE Great Bustard Consortium has been given a £1.8million European Union Life+ grant which will cover 75 per cent of the scheme’s costs over the next five years.

The world’s heaviest flying bird was hunted to extinction in the UK in 1832, but was reintroduced to Salisbury Plain with chicks from around Saratov in the Trans-Volga region of southern Russia in 2004.

Since then, a population of around 18 has been established.

Some of the money will be used to monitor the birds with GPS satellite transmitters. The Great Bustard Consortium is made up of the Great Bustard Group, the University of Bath, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Natural England.

The first great bustard chicks in 177 years hatched in the wild in 2009 and, last year, at least four chicks hatched and two native chicks were successfully reared to fledging. A population of 18 has now been established. A University of Bath spokesman said 16 of the birds have been fitted with satellite transmitters to track where they feed and roost.

The areas will be monitored for the availability of food and for predators. Feeding patches with appropriate plants and seeds to attract the type of insects the birds eat will also be cultivated. Founder and director of the Great Bustard Group David Waters said: “Despite our success over the last six years, we struggled to find enough cash to even put diesel in the Land Rover. Now, we have the chance to give this project ‘real wings’.

“This funding will provide a properly-resourced project with four new posts, new monitoring equipment and even the possibility of a second release site.”

Bath University PhD student John Burnside said: “Great bustards learn a lot of their behaviour from each other, so the newly-introduced chicks have to learn quickly how to feed, survive and avoid predators without the help of their mothers.” As the population becomes established, survival chances should, hopefully, get better. The project will look into ways of improving release methods and the survival of the birds in the longer term.”

■ Even more good news for the Great Bustard Group – staff from Amesbury company The Tintometer have handed over the results of their 2010 fundraising campaign to them. At a ceremony earlier this month at the company’s Solstice Park headquarters, they presented David Waters with more than £2,000. Tintometer staff, who unanimously chose the charity for its 2010 fundraising, have taken part in sponsored walks, raffles and bake-offs. Their money will be put towards the project in Sartov, Russia, where it will be used to rescue eggs and rear chicks for rehabilitation in Wiltshire.

■ The Great Bustard Group is hosting three photographic days, on Tuesday, March 8, Thursday, March 24 and Tuesday, April 5.

Photographers will be met at 10am by GBG photographer Dave Kjaer and a member of the GBG team at the Hawk Conservancy Trust and be taken into the the bustard enclosure, where Mr Kjaer will give them advice on how to get the best pictures. The rest of the day can be spent at the HCT. The cost for the day is £40, payable on the day or in advance by sending a cheque to Great Bustard Group, 1 Down Barn Close, Winterbourne Gunner, Salisbury SP4 6JP. To book a place call 07817 971327 or email lynnederry@greatbustard.org.