The stone curlew is Britain's only breeding representative of the thick-knee family. This unusual, secretive bird of stony arable land and chalk downland requires specialized conservation management.
Stone curlew welfare depends on the preservation of open, stony habitats that have largely disappeared from the British landscape. Their remarkable cryptic coloration protects eggs and chicks from visual predators but not from agricultural machinery. Nest protection by trained volunteers and farmers who mark nest positions and guide machinery around them directly prevents chick and egg mortality. The strong site fidelity means disruption of breeding territories causes birds to repeatedly attempt to nest in suboptimal locations, increasing predation risk.