Common cranes build first nests in England for centuries Great Crane Project aviculturalist and one of the "crane mums," Amy King, said: "This beautiful bird was so iconic in Britain, yet it was almost wiped out here by hunting and the draining of our wetlands. It may come to nothing but this is an amazing moment seeing their first nest-building attempt in this part of the world for 400 years. It's even more exciting knowing that these are some of the same birds we taught by hand to survive by themselves. I feel like a very proud parent. Once widespread in Britain, the species was driven to extinction as a breeding bird by hunting and habitat loss by 1600, although a small population has been established in the Norfolk Broads since 1979. Cranes are wary of people and it is very unusual to get near a nest, but these birds have made their nest building attempt just 20 metres from one of the hides at Slimbridge, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust said.