The Eurasian curlew has the fastest-declining breeding population of any bird in Europe. Its welfare is threatened by nest predation, habitat loss, and conditions across its migratory flyway.
Curlew welfare at individual sites is directly affected by predation risk, which has increased as predator populations have grown in the absence of traditional management. Adult curlews are devoted parents that maintain incubation through adverse weather and disturbance. Nest failure causes significant energetic costs as pairs repeatedly attempt to nest after predation. Chick mortality from predation and cold, wet weather causes direct welfare harm to chicks and distress responses in parents. Targeted predator management around key curlew nesting sites has demonstrated measurable improvements in breeding success.