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Securing a future for Curlews across the North Wales Moors
The haunting call of the Curlew is one of the defining sounds of the Welsh uplands. But across the UK, this iconic bird is in serious decline.
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The plight of the Curlew
Breeding numbers have fallen dramatically in recent decades, and without urgent action the Eurasian Curlew could disappear as a breeding bird in Wales by 2033.
However, across the upland landscapes of Ysbyty Ifan and Hiraethog, there is still hope.
The North Wales Moors support the largest remaining breeding population of Curlews in Wales, accounting for around 10% of the national population. Spanning approximately 8,500 hectares of working farmland, moorland and peatland, this area provides the mosaic of habitats Curlews need to breed. Open ground for nesting, wet features for feeding chicks, and carefully managed areas for grazing.
Despite this, breeding success is often too low to sustain the population. Habitat pressures and high predation rates mean many nests fail before chicks can fully fledge. Without targeted intervention, the call of the Curlew could very well fall silent across these hills.
Working together for Curlews
Curlew’s Call is a three-year project led by RSPB Cymru that aims to reverse the decline of this iconic species on the North Wales Moors. It builds on the work previously delivered through the CurlewLIFE project in the Ysbyty Ifan and Hiraethog area.
The project works closely with over 80 local farmers and landowners, whose land supports breeding Curlews, alongside a growing network of volunteers who help with monitoring, nest protection and community engagement.
Farmers are central to this effort, and through targeted habitat management, including appropriate grazing, rush control and ditch blocking, they are helping to create the type of conditions Curlews need to thrive.
It takes a community to save a Curlew
For many a generation, the call of the Curlew has been a part of life on the North Wales Moors.
It takes a community to save a Curlew, and through working with farmers, volunteers and partners, the project is ensuring that it’s recognisable call can still be heard across the North Wales Moors for generations to come.
Funding
Curlew’s Call has been made possible with funding from National Lottery players through the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Nature Networks Fund, delivered in partnership with the Welsh Government.
