Upland Moorland Management and Curlew Welfare

The Eurasian curlew is among Europe's most threatened breeding birds, with welfare implications for individual birds from habitat loss, predation and illegal persecution.

Key Facts

UK curlew populations have declined 65% since the 1970s — the species is amber-listed
The UK holds 25% of the world's breeding curlew population making its conservation globally critical
Curlew chick survival is the primary limiting factor; predation by foxes, crows and mustelids is significant
Moorland managed for grouse shooting maintains predator control that incidentally benefits curlew
Lowland curlew are declining faster than upland populations due to agricultural intensification

Welfare Considerations

Individual curlews invest heavily in breeding — they form long-term pair bonds and chicks are nidifugous but dependent on parents for weeks. Failed breeding seasons cause both immediate welfare cost and long-term population decline. Predation of chicks by foxes and corvids causes acute suffering in both prey and parent. The complex overlap between grouse moor management (which provides predator control benefiting curlew) and illegal raptor persecution (which harms curlew habitat quality) makes curlew conservation politically sensitive.

What You Can Do

Donate to curlew conservation organisations including Curlew Country
Advocate for evidence-based predator management policies that support curlew recovery
Report curlew breeding pairs to local wildlife trusts to support monitoring programmes
Support agri-environment scheme reforms that prioritise upland bird welfare outcomes