Signs on the runway warn crews to be wary of the birds

Four pairs of stone curlew have made their home in the midst of the constant roar of jet engines at the base.

Russell Littlejohn, with the Lakenheath Environmental Flight, said: "The US Air Force feels it's important to preserve our natural resources and to that end, we do try to protect the birds as best we can.

"It sometimes is an inconvenience, but we work through those inconveniences."

Nesting safely in the centre of noise and activity might seem strange, but the birds are normally at high risk in the wild and have thrived on the base.

The stone curlew's eggs are attractive to poachers

The average reproduction rate for stone curlews in the UK is one chick for every two nests.

Last year at Lakenheath they had five chicks from two nests.

RSPB conservationist Mark Thomas told BBC Look East that the bird is threatened by poachers who collect its rare eggs.

He said: "Lots of them nest in remote sites and at these locations they are then targeted by collectors."

"These eggs are used as trophies - they put them in cabinets.

"It's all strictly illegal."

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is working with the MoD police to help those birds that are not afforded the protection of the US Air Force.