The Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) is one of Europe's fastest-declining wading birds, with welfare and conservation challenges centred on breeding failure in agricultural landscapes.
Curlew welfare in declining populations encompasses individual suffering from nest failure, chick predation, and the stress of unsuccessful breeding attempts, as well as population-level welfare in the form of declining numbers. Nest failure causes direct welfare impacts: incubating adults experience nest loss and associated energetic and psychological costs. Chick predation is an acute welfare event. Head-starting programmes (captive-rearing of eggs to improve chick survival) involve captivity welfare considerations including appropriate housing, nutrition, and release protocols. Wader keepers report that curlews in captive head-starting show signs of stress in high-density conditions, requiring careful management. Agricultural management agreements that protect curlew nesting areas are both a welfare and conservation measure.