Conservationists said the number of common cranes in the UK was now thought to be more than 200 birds. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo Cranes, which became extinct in the UK 400 years ago, have continued their recent comeback with a new high of 64 pairs recorded in a survey. The common crane, which stands about 120cm (4ft) tall and is famous for its dancing courtship displays, vanished from Britain in the 1600s as a result of hunting and a decline in their wetland habitat. But the natural return of a few birds to Norfolk in 1979, and conservation work, including restoring peatland, protecting wetlands and a reintroduction programme, has helped the species stage a comeback, wildlife experts said.