Blogs

Curlew breeding and wintering numbers are declining in Hampshire and periodic surveys of breeding waders in the New Forest suggest that the curlew population probably peaked in the 1980s at about 120 pairs, but has since declined to about 45 pairs. 

If we want to stop the curlew going the way of many other birds, such as the corncrake and the nightjar, we are going to need Defra to allow landowners to resume protecting the curlew’s young on their most important breeding grounds.

he RSPB is right to call in gamekeepers and follow the evidence (Rod Liddle - Royal Society for the Protection of (some) Birds. Not you, crow - you must die in agony, August 12) that predation can and does impact curlew populations. Our upland experiment predicted that predation control can nearly double curlew numbers in five years but, without it, they are facing local extinctions.

As we draw ever closer to leaving the European Union and reinventing our environmental schemes, much has been said about the intricate details of how much support farmers receive, where it comes from and what it rewards. Paperwork, prescription and perfect timing.

Ahead of World Curlew Day, Dave Parish asks what can be done to help the species?

The UK and Ireland Curlew Action Group is made up of a growing partnership of government agencies and conservation organisations, who all care about Curlew. We have come together to shape, drive and co-ordinate a programme of work across the UK so that we can make a difference for this species but also meet our international obligations.

Predator control will now be included in all existing and future curlew conservation schemes following a recent Westminster debate. 

We respond to a recent piece in The Herald on the drastic decline in curlew numbers.