Forty-eight young curlews have been released into their natural habitat within the Shropshire Hills and Welsh Marches as part of a critical initiative to safeguard the species. The Eurasian curlew, an iconic resident of these regions, has seen its numbers plummet, leading to its inclusion on the UK's Red List of highest conservation concern. Non-profit organisation Curlew Country is spearheading the effort, aiming to significantly improve the survival chances of these vulnerable birds by ensuring they receive the best possible start in life.
The project, described by Curlew Country leader Amanda Perkins as a 'desperate measure' to stabilise the population, involves a technique known as 'headstarting'. This process, licensed by Natural England, entails collecting eggs from wild nests, incubating them, and then raising the chicks in specially constructed pens until they are old enough for release. Perkins explained that extensive monitoring revealed a stark reality: 'no chick survived to fledging from any of the nests we looked at' in the wild, primarily due to predation and disturbance. The headstarting approach acts as a temporary solution 'until we can get better natural nesting in place'.
Curlews, Europe's largest wading bird, are particularly vulnerable as ground-nesting birds. Approximately 30% of western European curlews choose to breed in the UK, spending winters near coastlines and summers on inland grasslands and moors. Their preference for wide-open spaces makes their nests susceptible to damage and predation, which Perkins identifies as the 'major problem'. Historically, these birds were widespread across the UK, but habitat loss and increased threats have severely impacted their numbers.
The conservation efforts for curlews are also integrated into Shropshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy, a long-term plan led by Shropshire Council alongside Telford and Wrekin Council. This strategy, which involves input from farmers and local residents, focuses on improving biodiversity and restoring habitats on a 'landscape scale'. Lynn Parker, the strategy co-ordinator, emphasised the necessity of collaborative work to prevent the extinction of curlews, highlighting the need for 'really good quality grasslands or wetlands' that are crucial for the birds. She praised the local farming community for their 'really supportive' role, often alerting volunteers to nest locations and sometimes fencing them off.
With curlews designated as a 'priority species' in the county's nature restoration plan, the current goal is ensuring their survival. Parker noted that while seeing them thrive 'would be great', the immediate focus is on preventing further decline. This year's release of headstarted chicks marks a significant step towards safeguarding this 'really iconic species for Shropshire' and moving away from the risk of its loss, demonstrating a concerted effort to reverse the fortunes of one of the UK's most endangered birds.