By Cyrielle Delvenne
After a competitive Instagram contest, it seemed that one of your favorite Species of the Week of 2020 was… the curlew! This good-looking bird characterized by a long, downcurved bill1 gifts us by his presence in the Isle of Cumbrae.
The curlew, Numenius arquata, is the largest European wading bird. In Scotland, it may be known as the ‘whaup’ or ‘great whaup’. The haunting sound of the curlew’s call is unmistakable and can be heard all year around on our wee island. Its evocative call has been an inspiration for artists such as Seafarer, dating back to 1,000 AD: “I take my gladness in the… sound of the curlew instead of the laughter of men” (The Scottish Wildlife Trust, 2020).
This picturesque water bird enjoys a diet of worms, shellfish and shrimps. Females can weigh up to one kilo and males up to 800g. The current population of curlews in the UK is known to of 66,000 pairs breeding and 140,000 individuals wintering. The map below shows where they can be seen and when (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 2020).
Birds across the UK can be categorized according to their conservation status: red, amber and green. Curlews are in the red list – and so are given the highest conservation priority. Species in the red list require urgent action.
The decline in curlews is mostly due to habitat loss, increased predation and climate change. A recent study conducted by the BTO as part of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) identified those factors to be the cause of decline in curlew populations. The results suggested that degradation of habitat is a key driver. The afforestation of semi-natural grassland and moorland prevent curlews from breeding ground. The study also found that curlew numbers were lower in areas with greater crow abundance and with a higher chance of fox occurrence. Finally, areas getting drier and warmer due to climate change have an impact on their invertebrate food (Franks et al., 2017).
The Curlew Recovery Programme helps to create a brighter future for curlews by funding vital habitat management work. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is working with farmers, crofters, land-managers and other conservation organisations to help save breeding curlews.
Learning about and appreciating these magnificent birds with a unique call is also of great importance. Experiencing nature is very important in inspriring positive attitudes towards nature conservation. To quote David Attenborough: “No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced”.
Which is why environmental education is so important to us here at the FSC. In learning about the nature outside our doorstep, we uncover the beauty of it. An added bonus to this is the mental health benefits – increased self-confidence, improved mood and a motivation to protect what is being lost everyday.
With the current lockdown, we invite everyone to stay safe at home and to enjoy the outside at their doorstep. At FSC Millport, the staff have started a walking contest where everyone counts their daily steps on their phone, every day during lockdown! If you live near the coast, take time during your daily walk to try and spot a Curlew. If you don’t live near the coast, what other birds can you spot?
We would love to hear about your sightings on your outside exercise. Send us pictures of your daily walk and the wildlife you can watch from your doorstep! Identify us on your publication on Twitter @FSC_Millport, Facebook and Instagram @FSCMillport .
Want to take action? Take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch happening from 29 to 31 January 2021. This is an opportunity to discover wildlife on your doorstep and enjoy time in nature. Taking part is easy, you’ll have to spend an hour counting the birds you see from your balcony, your local park or your garden. You’ll then have to tell what you saw. Interested in having fun while doing some citizen science? Sign up by clicking on this link: https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ .
1 : beak of a waterbird
References :
Franks, S.E., Douglas, D.J.T., Gillings, S., Pearce-Higgins, J.W. (2017) Environmental correlates of breeding abundance and population change of Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata in Britain (Online). Available at https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/peer-reviewed-papers/environmental-correlates-breeding-abundance-and (Accessed on 11Th January 2021).
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2021) Curlew (Online). Available at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/curlew/ (Accessed on 11Th January 2021).
Scottish Wildlife Trust (2021) Curlew (Online). Available at https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/species/curlew/ (Accessed on 11Th January 2021).
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