The curlew (Numenius arquata) is Europe's largest wading bird and one of Britain's most critically endangered breeding species. Its haunting, bubbling call — evocative of wild upland landscapes — is increasingly rare as breeding populations have declined by over 65% since the 1970s.
Breeding Ecology
Curlew breed on upland moorland, blanket bogs, rough grassland, and in the lowlands on wet meadows and arable farmland. They arrive at breeding grounds in February-March, nesting on the ground in open vegetation. Chicks are precocial but slow to develop flight — spending 5-6 weeks on the ground where they are highly vulnerable to predation. Both parents defend chicks vigorously but cannot prevent determined predator attacks.
Causes of Decline
Predation: Fox, stoat, crow, and raven predation of eggs and chicks is the primary driver of breeding failure in many areas. Without active predator management, productivity is insufficient to maintain populations.
Habitat loss: Loss of upland moorland to forestry, drainage of wet grassland, and intensive grazing eliminating nesting structure
Disturbance: Recreational pressure (dog walking, mountain biking) during the breeding season disrupts nesting and causes nest abandonment
Agricultural intensification: Loss of hay meadows and wet grassland in lowland areas
Conservation Approaches
Predator management: Legal control of foxes and corvids during the breeding season significantly improves chick survival
Nest protection: Electric fencing around known nests dramatically increases hatching success in predator-intensive areas
Head-starting: Collecting eggs for artificial incubation and releasing head-started chicks is being trialled as a conservation tool
Habitat management: Wet grassland restoration, appropriate grazing management, and maintaining rush-dominated sward provide nesting habitat
Disturbance reduction: Dog lead requirements in curlew breeding areas; diverting rights of way away from nesting areas
Curlew Country Project
The Curlew Country project in the Welsh Marches and other regional initiatives are pioneering landscape-scale approaches to curlew conservation, combining predator management, nest protection, habitat improvement, and community engagement. Early results show improved breeding success in managed areas.