There are only small breeding populations of Bitterns in most EU and other European countries. Half of it declined between 1970 and 1990 (BirdLife 2004). Loss and deterioration in the quality of wetland habitats are mainly responsible. The Bittern is a ‘SPEC 3’ species, indicating that its populations are not concentrated in Europe but that it has an unfavorable conservation status in Europe. It is a declining breeding species that are dependent on reedbeds, a scarce, specialized habitat. If action is not taken to reverse the declining trend, the species could become extinct in a number of European countries.

Read more about Great Bittern here.