Stone-curlew BAP report

Adult stone-curlew in a game-cover crop
Stone-curlews, also known as 'thick-knees', arrive from Africa in early spring

What are we trying to achieve?

The Government agreed a Biodiversity Action Plan for this species in 1995. The targets for this plan were revised in 2006 and are as follows:

  • Increase the breeding population in the present UK range to 350 pairs by 2015
  • Increase the range of stone-curlews to 49 10 km squares by 2010
  • Increase the population breeding on semi-natural grassland to 120 pairs by the year 2010
  • Achieve annual breeding productivity of 0.7 young fledged per breeding pair by 2010

What is the RSPB doing to help?

In 2006 the RSPB carried out a wide range of work to help the stone-curlew, including:

  • Protecting chicks and nests from accidental destruction on farmland
  • Providing help and advice to farmers and landowners who had stone-curlews on their land
  • Advising Government on the content and targeting of wildlife friendly farming schemes specifically to benefit stone-curlews. The stone-curlew is a target species in the Higher Level Stewardship scheme
  • Managing four RSPB nature reserves to try to provide suitable habitat for stone-curlews. In 2006, breeding was recorded on all of these sites
  • Working to restore large areas of chalk grassland favoured by stone-curlews at our new Winterbourne Downs reserve in Wiltshire
  • Carrying out research into the effectiveness of conservation measures for stone-curlews

This continues a programme of detailed work on stone-curlews that the RSPB has been undertaking for a number of years. Central to this was the use of stone-curlew fieldworkers, in Breckland, SW England (around Salisbury Plain) and the Wessex Downs and Chilterns. We are grateful to Natural England for part funding these field staff as part of Action for Birds in England, a conservation partnership between Natural England and the RSPB.

Summary of progress

The original UK BAP population target of 300 pairs by 2010 was surpassed in 2005, five years ahead of schedule. This has now been exceeded, with at least 336 pairs in 2006, including seven pairs that bred on RSPB reserves, raising 10 young. However, little progress had been made on restoring the stone-curlew to parts of its former range. Also, the target for getting pairs on semi-natural grassland (downland and heathland) has not been met. Productivity in 2006 was slightly below the 0.7 chicks per pair target. 

Has our work been effective?

Yes! We know from research findings that RSPB fieldworkers make a significant difference to the breeding success of stone-curlews. Without this intervention it is likely that the population would have decreased rather than increased.

On our Minsmere reserve, one pair nested on acid grassland reverted from arable, and raised four young. A particularly good result for the habitat creation and management work that has gone on there.

We will continue to advise farmers and landowners so that the Higher Level agri-environment scheme is implemented successfully. This will ensure that some of the most important sites for stone-curlews will continue to be managed in a manner that will ensure their survival.

As the above progress summary shows there are still areas where more progress is desirable.

What do we plan to do next?

We will continue to deploy stone-curlew fieldworkers in the key areas for this species and carry out the range of work outlined above.

We will advise on and encourage use of the Higher Level agri-environment scheme in areas with important stone-curlew populations.

We will complete an analysis of population monitoring data and information on conservation management to identify the contribution of past management to changes in population size and distribution. This will inform future conservation management.

We will continue to deploy the results of work on human disturbance. This is particularly relevant in trying to ensure that increased public access to heathland and downland is managed in a way that avoids negative impacts on this sensitive species.

What are the constraints to achieving the targets fully?

Some issues are beyond the RSPB’s control or are factors that we can only influence indirectly. The most significant blocks to achieving the Biodiversity Action Plan targets in our view are:

  • Insufficient incentives available to restore and re-create downland and heathland in the former range of this bird
  • Potential shortfall in funding for stone-curlew friendly measures under the Higher Level Stewardship scheme
  • Increasing development pressure on stone-curlews, including the revised proposals for the A303 near Stonehenge

Acknowledgements

The RSPB has worked closely with a number of individuals and organisations during the year to further the conservation of the stone-curlew, in particular: Natural England, Defence Estates, Defra and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

Natural England, Thames Water, Greene King and WH Knights and Sons provided funding towards our stone-curlew work.

We are also very grateful to the individual farmers, private landowners and volunteers who have helped stone-curlew work during the year.

Last modified: 04 September 2007