Wildlife

Wild Curlew Habitat and Upland Welfare

Curlews breeding in upland areas face unique welfare challenges related to breeding habitat quality and predation management.

Key Facts

Curlews breed in upland bogs, moorland, and rough grassland
Nest success in upland areas is higher than in lowland grassland
Climate change is drying some upland peat habitats, reducing nesting site quality
Upland curlews winter on estuaries and need intact migration flyways
Breeding success varies greatly between managed and unmanaged upland sites

Welfare Considerations

Curlew chicks dying in failed nests experience hunger and cold exposure before death. Adult curlews investing in failed nesting attempts expend considerable energy with no reproductive return. Upland habitat management that maintains wet, invertebrate-rich moorland and reduces predator pressure improves both chick welfare and adult reproductive welfare.

What You Can Do

Support upland peat restoration benefiting curlew nesting habitat
Donate to organisations protecting curlew nesting sites with predator management
Advocate for upland agri-environment schemes targeting curlew recovery