A SPECIES of bird reintroduced to the Wiltshire countryside for the first time in 172 years is beginning to thrive.

A total of 28 orphaned Great Bustard chicks were flown to the UK from Russia in the autumn, and released into the wild on Salisbury Plain.

Despite foxes killing some of the chicks and some dying from illness, 15 of the birds are settling into their new home and have survived the early dangers.

The Great Bustard, one of the world's heaviest flying birds, is on Wiltshire's crest but disappeared from the UK after being hunted to extinction.

Conservationist Dave Waters was instrumental in bringing the birds back to the UK and believes the remaining chicks are beginning to find their feet.

"We have got 15 now but we haven't lost as many as we were preparing to lose and still claim the project was being successful," he said. "We predicted losses. In the wild the mortality rate for bustard chicks is 78 per cent in their first year.

"Once they get through the first year they stand a very good chance of being around in 10 or 12 years. The daft and dopey ones might meet their maker rather earlier."

Mr Waters has been granted a licence to import more birds from Russia over the next decade.

He said: "We are hoping the newcomers will interact with the birds that have survived the winter."

The birds were introduced into a fox-proof pen and were left to come and go as they pleased.

Some of the birds now venture up to six miles from the pen, with one leaving the sanctuary altogether.

The bird, named Dudley, has been dividing his time between a nearby partridge and pheasant shoot, but the gamekeepers recognise him because of his 7ft wingspan.

Other bustards have been sponsored by primary school children, who have named two of the birds Vodka and Boris.

FACTFILE

The great bustard became extinct in the UK in 1832.

Male and female great bustards keep themselves separate and mate just once a year.

A male bird will not start mating until he is at least six years old.

A great bustard can live up to 30 years.

This batch of birds was released onto Salisbury Plain on September 22. It is the first time an extinct species has been reintroduced into the UK.

Up to 40 more chicks are scheduled to be flown over from Russia this year.