Ministers O’Sullivan and Heydon welcome landmark conservation breakthrough on World Curlew Day
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- An t-eolas is déanaí:
Success for nature conservation as the first Curlew reared as part of a major effort to protect vulnerable young chicks returns to breed
Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, have today (World Curlew Day, April 21st) welcomed a significant conservation breakthrough for the Curlew, one of our most recognisable and threatened wading birds.
Curlew numbers in Ireland have declined by 98% since the 1980s, leaving the species at the brink of extinction. In recent years however, new and innovative conservation measures have been deployed to reverse the decline of Curlew and other wading birds through the Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership (EIP) – a project funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine.
These measures include the use of “headstarting”, where Curlew eggs are taken from the wild, protected and reared in a secure and safe environment until fledglings are ready to be released back into the wild. Like many wading birds, Curlew nest on the ground so their eggs and young chicks are especially vulnerable to predators. The practice of headstarting is a vital helping hand at a critical time in the life cycle of these birds.
The Breeding Waders EIP confirmed that a Curlew released in County Leitrim in 2024 has been discovered at a breeding site less than 50km away in Sliabh Beagh, County Fermanagh, where he has now settled with a mate. This marks the first recorded instance in Ireland of a headstarted bird returning to establish a breeding territory.
Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan TD said:
“It’s fantastic to be able to share the positive news that our conservation efforts are working, particularly so on World Curlew Day. The Curlew is such a special bird, with a distinctive curved beak and an unmistakeable call. Until recent decades, they were a common feature of Irish landscapes and the ‘cry of the Curlew’ would’ve been a familiar sound. Today though, their numbers are in a very worrying decline and major efforts are being made to conserve the population. As Minister for Nature, I’m committed to investing in projects like the Breeding Waders EIP to help bring these iconic birds back from the brink of extinction. Collaboration, science and innovation are at the heart of this project and the return of this bird shows us that this approach works. Headstarting is particularly effective for ground-nesting species, as the eggs and chicks are so vulnerable to predators. We now have powerful evidence that this technique can produce birds capable of surviving migration and returning to breed in the wild on the island of Ireland.”
“I would like to thank all of those involved in this amazing discovery, including the Sliabh Beagh Curlew Conservation Trust, the RSPB and the Breeding Waders EIP.”
Commenting on this conservation milestone, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, said:
“As we celebrate World Curlew Day, my Department is proud to co-fund the Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership in its vital work. This conservation milestone is a testament to the hard work of all those involved, from farmers and landowners to project partners and supporters. This is a very positive development for conservation, and we look forward to hearing more from the Breeding Waders EIP as it progresses.”
Owen Murphy, Senior Project Manager, Breeding Waders EIP said:
“These types of milestones are the reason many of us persevere in the challenging discipline of ground-nesting bird conservation. Huge credit goes to our landowners, our project staff and our project partners who working collaboratively, allow such moments to happen. We all look forward to watching this Curlew’s progress as he starts his journey as a breeding adult.”
Donal Beagan, Nest Protection and Headstarting Manager, Breeding Waders EIP added:
“This is a really encouraging first sign that headstarting Eurasian Curlew is beginning to have an impact on bolstering our Curlew population. I am delighted to see that this bird has chosen breeding grounds in my own local area of Sliabh Beagh and am excited to follow its journey this breeding season and beyond.”
The project team, together with stakeholders, partners and local landowners, will continue to monitor the bird throughout the breeding season and provide protection measures to bolster breeding success.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The Breeding Waders EIP initiative is co-funded by the European Commission and the Irish Government under the CAP Strategic Plan. In this case, both the National Parks & Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will fund agri-environmental actions, while the National Parks and Wildlife Service will also fund the Operational Group’s administrative costs.
The Breeding Waders EIP Operational Group consists of Irish Rural Link in partnership with Michael Martyn Agri-Environment, Irish Wildlife Services, Hen Harrier Project, Atlantic Technological University, University College Dublin, Fota Wildlife Park and Dublin Zoo.
For more information about this EIP-Agri project, visit https://breedingwaders.ie/, email karen.nugent@breedingwaders.ie.
Further information on the European Innovation Partnership (AGRI) may be found here.