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Investigating the causes of curlew declines

Curlew profile
Curlew

The UK holds over 30 % of the West European breeding population of curlews but, as on the continent, the UK breeding population is undergoing a marked decline. Between 1994 and 2006 the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) shows a significant decline of 37 % in the abundance of curlew across the UK. Within this national decline, there is variability between regions in how populations are faring. Detailed local studies have implicated nest predation and low breeding productivity as causes of decline. However, changes in vegetation structure through lower grazing pressure in the uplands may also have an effect of habitat suitability. Understanding the causes and possible mechanisms of declines in upland curlew populations is important for the effective conservation of this species.

Project objectives

  • Identify possible causes of changes in curlew populations and their links with changes in land management in two extensive study areas.
  • Resurvey plots in southern Scotland and South Pennines repeating methods and rerecording measures of habitat and management recorded approx 10 years earlier.

Key dates so far

  • 2009: curlew populations, hatching success, vegetation structure, predator density, grazing intensity and predator control recorded from 41 plots in southern Scotland, an area of declining curlews.
  • 2010: the same measures of curlew populations, habitat and management recorded from 36 plots in the South Pennines, an area of stable curlew populations.

Work planned or underway

Data is currently being collated from both study periods and study areas with analysis of possible causes of population change to be carried out during winter 2010/2011.

Results

Curlew populations have continued to decline in the past 10 years across the Southern Scotland study area. There was no overall change across the south Pennines study area with declines on some sites but increases at others.

Who to contact

Paul Bellamy
Conservation Scientist
E-mail: paul.bellamy@rspb.org.uk

Partners

Natural England

Funding

RSPB and Natural England through Action for birds in England

Bird guide