Wild Stone Curlew Welfare: Cryptic Arable Nester Recovering

The stone curlew is a secretive and cryptic bird of open, stony habitats that has staged a remarkable conservation recovery in Britain through targeted nest protection and farmland management.

Key Facts

The UK stone curlew population has recovered from fewer than 200 pairs in the 1980s to around 600 pairs today
Recovery has been driven primarily by RSPB nest protection schemes in which nest sites are marked and protected during cultivation
Stone curlews nest on bare or sparsely vegetated arable land and chalk downland
The species is highly cryptic and relies on camouflage to avoid predation; disturbance can cause abandonment
Stone curlews are summer migrants, arriving from sub-Saharan Africa in March-April and departing in September-October
The species has two breeding attempts per season; second clutches are frequent if the first is lost
Predator management - primarily fox control - on reserves and farms has contributed to improved nest success
Climate change may extend the breeding season northward, with potential population benefits

Welfare Considerations

The stone curlew's recovery is one of Britain's most striking conservation success stories, and it demonstrates what targeted, farm-level conservation can achieve. RSPB nest protection - working directly with farmers to identify and protect nest sites - has transformed the welfare outlook for individual breeding pairs. Chick survival and overall productivity have improved dramatically. The continued recovery depends on maintaining this intensive, relationship-based conservation approach with farming communities in key areas of southern England.

What You Can Do

Support the RSPB's stone curlew recovery programme through donation or volunteering
If farming in stone curlew areas, engage with RSPB advisers about nest protection
Avoid disturbing open, stony or chalky ground in southern England during the breeding season
Report stone curlew sightings to local wildlife groups and the RSPB
Advocate for agri-environment scheme funding that supports nest protection work on arable farms