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Threats
The widespread decline of the species is attributed primarily to habitat loss through abandonment of low-intensity mixed and pastoral agriculture in favour of more intensive and mainly arable farming. Continuing lower levels of grazing by livestock and rabbits has left large tracts of grassland unsuitable due to higher vegetation height.
The main threat to dry grassland is conversion to arable farmland or to plantation forestry. Mechanised farming operations seriously affect stone curlew breeding success on arable land, and many eggs and chicks are lost particularly to inter-row hoeing of root crops and rolling of cereals.
Egg collecting continues to be a localised cause of nest failure. The main recorded causes of death of fully grown birds are collisions with utility lines and fences at the breeding grounds, and shooting in Europe on passage or in the winter range. However, these factors are much less significant than habitat loss and deterioration.
Last modified: 22 July 2011