Eurasian curlews face severe breeding failure in lowland Britain from nest predation, habitat loss, and disturbance, threatening one of Europe's most at-risk breeding birds.
Curlew eggs and chicks predated at nest sites experience acute suffering during predation events. Breeding adults experience stress from nest loss and repeated failed breeding attempts. The energetic cost of repeated nesting attempts in areas with very low success rates imposes physiological burden. Habitat degradation leaves curlews in sub-optimal environments with inadequate invertebrate food for chick rearing. Disturbance from recreational activity forces nest abandonment exposing eggs to predation and weather.