World Curlew Day 2025 . A Celebration of People Power
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- 1 day ago
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St Beuno is the patron saint of Curlews . Legend tells us that he blessed the Curlew after it saved his prayer book from the waves during a sea crossing. The blessing is that curlew nests would always be difficult to find, something of a challenge for modern-day curlew surveyors . St Beuno's feast day is the 21st of April and so this day has been chosen by author and curlew champion Mary Colwell as World Curlew Day. This brings an opportunity for us to celebrate this iconic bird and also acknowledge all those who are working hard to benefit curlew in Wales.
The 2025 curlew breeding season is underway. There are reports of birds now returning to their breeding grounds to feed and set up territory before laying their clutch of four eggs. Incubation will begin during late April and early May and we hope to see the first chicks hatch in late May or early June.
The Wales Action Plan for the Recovery of Curlew identifies twelve Important Curlew Areas (ICAs) where efforts to conserve this iconic species are being focussed by a number of organisations throughout Wales. For many of the ICAs volunteers play a key role in the delivery of this work. Volunteers work alongside professional staff to monitor curlew territories and help in many ways.
One of the tools that has been developed in recent years is the placing of temporary electric fencing around curlew nests to deter ground predators from taking eggs and reduce disturbance of the nest by stock.
Teams of volunteers have been trained in curlew survey and also in the erection of the nest fences. The fencing is put in place once the nest has been located. It is a race against the clock to undertake the mowing of the vegetation , putting up the poles , getting the 6 or 8 strands of wire in place and then connecting the solar panel as quickly as possible to reduce disturbance to the breeding pair.
Finlay Wilson of the Natur am Byth Project, National Lottery Heritage Fund which is leading of curlew within ICA1 on Anglesey for the RSPB “ We have a loyal bunch of volunteers who have undertaken the training and help with the nest protection, as well as looking and listening out for Curlews throughout the season. With their help we can get the fencing in place quickly and effectively which leads to higher rates of hatching of the curlew chicks.”
The Mynydd Hiraethog and Ysbyty Ifan area ( ICAs 2 and 3) were until recently within the RSPB Curlew in Crisis EU funded LIFE project . During that time a group of dedicated volunteers developed a good working relationship with the landowners and farmers in the area, as well as a wealth of experience in curlew survey and nest fencing. This group of curlew enthusiast are continuing to work with the community to deliver this important work , giving their curlew the best possible chance to succeed in 2025.
The Curlew Connections Wales Project is funded by the Welsh Government through the Nature Networks Fund and is working in three ICAs in Wales; the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Protected Landscape; Montgomeryshire and the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Each of these areas have teams of volunteers who monitor birds, erect electric fencing and also spend time raising awareness about the importance of keeping dogs on leads to protect local nesting curlew and livestock.
Julieanne Quinlan of the GWCT states “We’re incredibly privileged to have such a dedicated network of volunteers supporting so many aspects of the project. Their skills, passion, and the connections they’ve built along the way are an exemplar of collaborative conservation in action. Their support does not go unnoticed, and we could not be more thankful to have them on board with the project.”
One of the keen volunteers in the Clwydian Range explains "As a busy father juggling homelife and freelance work, I sadly don't have much time to volunteer, but I have been able to do a bit, combining it with my weekly bike ride or the occasional walk. Even when I haven't found any Curlews, it has been a real joy, exploring my local hills and seeing so much other wildlife. I really feel that I am getting to know and love my local area even more deeply and when I do see and report a curlew, I get a real thrill, knowing these beautiful birds choose to come here and that I am doing a little bit to help."
The Fenns Whixall National Nature Reserve (NNR) (ICA7) has a long history of working with dedicated volunteers to help with the restoration of this lowland raised bog.
The difficult topography of this site has led to a slightly different approach with large, semi-permanent fencing erected in advance of the breeding season to reduce the mammalian predation threat on areas of the bog where curlew and other waders are likely to nest. The location of these fences has been informed by data from volunteer Curlew surveys, and volunteers are heavily involved in their installation and maintenance throughout the season. Steve Dobbin, Reserve Manager, states “We owe a great deal of thanks to our volunteers. Much of what we know about our Curlew and other bird species on the NNR is down to our volunteers and their time spent carrying out surveys year on year, and many are also heavily involved in our work to try and boost their breeding success.”
The Elan Valley Trust (ICA 10) held a very successful training day for potential volunteers earlier this year. Olivia Boston-Smith, Volunteer Officer for the Trust says “It is brilliant to have a dedicated team of curlew monitoring volunteers helping us this year and we hope to get a much better picture of the curlew numbers and activity in the Elan Valley. We were so lucky to hear and see a pair of curlew during the training session.”
In Gwent, dedicated volunteers led by Verity Picken have taken the lead in monitoring breeding curlew for a number of years. At least 19 pairs of curlew monitored in 2024 and for the first time electric fencing was placed around some of the nests. The fencing was funded by the Welsh Government Nature Networks funding scheme via NRW. They hope to increase the fencing this year.
Lee Ashcroft has been surveying curlew near his home in Gwent for the last two years. He concentrates his monitoring efforts on one particular pair and states “ If I can contribute to the success of just one pair of curlew this will help the whole population to succeed and hopefully start to increase again during the next few years.
If you would like the opportunity to volunteer to help curlew in Wales , details of all the projects are available on the blog page. Who is working to help curlew in Wales in 2024
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