Wildlife

Wild Bird: Curlew Upland Breeding Recovery

Curlews face the most severe conservation crisis of any UK breeding wader, and intensive management is required to prevent national extinction as a breeding bird.

Key Facts

England's curlew breeding population fell by 48% between 1994 and 2017
Predation of eggs and chicks by foxes, crows, stoats, and badgers is the primary breeding failure cause
Predator management at the nest site can increase fledgling production by 5-10 fold
Upland drainage and afforestation have destroyed vast areas of historic curlew breeding habitat
The Curlew Recovery Programme coordinates land managers, farmers, and conservation bodies

Welfare Considerations

Curlew chicks taken by predators experience acute welfare harm through predation. The conservation crisis means the ongoing loss of chicks through multiple predation events across the breeding range represents large-scale individual welfare harm. Nest protection through predator management, combined with habitat restoration, improves individual welfare outcomes while addressing population decline.

What You Can Do

Support the Curlew Recovery Programme through donation or volunteering
Learn to identify curlew nesting habitat and avoid disturbance during the breeding season
Report curlew breeding attempts to local curlew recovery coordinators
Advocate for agri-environment funding for upland curlew management
Support predator management programmes where they are evidence-based and welfare-conscious