Birds absent for decades make extraordinary comeback to Cornwall castle

Cornwall’s national bird has returned to a medieval castle in the county for the first time in decades, in a moment heralded by birdwatchers and mythology fans alike.

Choughs, with their red feet and beaks, appear on the Cornish coat of arms as a symbol of their importance to the county. But more than 50 years ago, they completely disappeared from the county due to reduced habitat on grazed cliffs.

Now, they were first seen at Tintagel Castle, to which they are strongly linked through Arthurian legend.

King Arthur was said to have become pregnant at Tintagel, and Cornish legend stipulates that she did not die after her final battle but instead collapsed into a cough. Because of this myth, it was believed that killing cough was unlucky.

English Heritage curator Win Scutt said: “People have told tales of the coughs at Tintagel for centuries, so it’s extraordinary to see them again here, in a place so linked to Arthurian legend. It’s a rare moment when nature and legend meet.”

Since the turn of this millennium, when three birds from southern Ireland reached the Lizard, Choughs have gradually returned to Cornwall.

Their return in 2001 was believed to mark the return of King Arthur after the birds became extinct in the county in 1973. There are currently between 250 and 350 breeding pairs in Great Britain, according to the RSPB.

Their return to Tintagel is considered a success story of recolonization, as mountain birds are seen circling and foraging along the castle’s rugged coastline, recalling the myth of the “once and future king”.

Hilary Mitchell and Steve Ashby of Cornwall Birds said the return of chutneys to the wicket was a conservation success story.

“This is a fantastic conservation success story that is testament to the work of conservation organisations, farmers, landowners and volunteers,” they said. “Their dedication has restored the habitat our gorge needs to thrive and kept the birds safe so they can re-colonise the Cornish coast.”

Binoculars will be available for visitors to borrow for a chance to spot whoops in the wild. Dolphins, seals, sparrows and pheasants can also be seen along the Tintagel coastline.

Tintagel Castle has a long history of wind erosion causing gaps to form in the mortar of the walls. English Heritage said £40,000 would be needed to repair the castle in 2022 due to the loss of archaeological remains from falling off cliffs.

Property manager Rob Woodside said at the time: “Erosion of Britain’s coastline is nothing new, but the rate of land loss we have seen over the last few years is alarming and some scenarios suggest sea levels could rise by up to a meter by the end of the century.

“To give this some context, sea levels have risen 14cm along the south coast of England in the last century. Climate change is accelerating the problems facing our coastal heritage and creating huge challenges for organizations like English Heritage trying to protect it. Rising sea levels and more regular storms pose a real risk to the future of many of our areas.”