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Supply teaching

Young cranes are a bit gawky, but are destined to grow into elegant adults. Common cranes are fairly common in Europe, but need a bit of help if they are to re-colonise Britain in sufficient numbers. To help them, cranes are being reared from eggs at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge. Nigel Jarrett has to teach young cranes to survive in the wild without becoming too attached to humans, in the hope that they'll breed. He's set up Britain’s first ‘Crane School’ to do this - the humans hide themselves in baggy clothing and use a model crane head to feed the chicks. Bill Oddie helps out today with a bit of supply teaching. Young cranes will fight to the death if left alone, so need constant supervision. Bill shows the chicks how to peck and how to wade in the pond. The chicks will be in school for another five weeks.

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