Farmland Birds

Curlew Welfare and Breeding Failure from Agricultural Intensification

Curlews are the UK highest-priority bird conservation species, with populations having declined by 65% since the 1970s. Breeding failure from predation and loss of wet grassland habitat causes the loss of hundreds of thousands of individuals annually.

Key Facts

UK curlew populations have declined by approximately 65% since 1975
Curlews require large areas of wet grassland, moorland, and bog for nesting
Predation of eggs and chicks by foxes, crows, and badgers is the leading cause of breeding failure
Agricultural drainage of wet grassland has eliminated nesting habitat across lowland England
The RSPB has identified curlew as the UK highest-priority bird conservation species

Welfare Considerations

Curlew chicks that survive hatching face high predation risk in the first weeks of life. Failed breeding attempts cause repeated distress behaviours in adults including alarm calling, ground displays, and persistent attempts to lead predators away from nests. Adults experience breeding season stress over multiple months in habitats where breeding success is chronically low. Population decline from repeated breeding failure affects thousands of pairs annually.

What You Can Do

Support Operation Curlew and Curlew Country monitoring and management programs
Donate to RSPB and WWT curlew breeding success improvement projects
Advocate for agri-environment payments specifically targeting curlew breeding habitat
Report curlew nesting attempts to your local Wildlife Trust for monitoring
Support predator management on key curlew breeding sites where legally permitted