Salt Marsh Curlew

The curlew is a regular visitor to our salt marshes. In winter you might be lucky to see a curfew of 50 or so salt marsh curlew. You can also see them in summer but not so many. So how come they share the same conservation status as the jaguar?

Sadly in many parts of the country they are disappearing. So we need to take action before the population falls any further.

Threatened with extinction, but why?

Curlew numbers in the UK have halved over the last 25 years. So they are now on the UK red list. The UK holds about 20-25% of the global breeding population. Most of these curlews breed in the uplands in the north. There is estimated to be only 2,000 breeding pairs remaining in southern, lowland areas. So there is a real risk that soon there will be no breeding curlews in Ireland, Wales and lowland southern England.

It is because the curlews are not able to successfully rear young that the numbers are plummeting. So when today’s adults die there may be no “next generation” to take their place.

The reasons for this are:

PS Thanks to the Curlew Recovery Partnership for these facts.

The curlew is an indicator species. So when things are bad for the curlew they are also bad for other species. Getting conditions right for breeding curlews will also benefit other ground nesting birds and many other associated species. It will be win win for the curlew, biodiversity and us.

The Whimbrel, a close cousin of the curlew, is also red-listed. This bird visits our salt marshes in April-May time as it makes a fuel stop on its way from Africa to the northern tip of Scotland and beyond to nest. So it is vital they can rest and feed up so they can make the next leg of their journey.

What can we do to protect them?

Our actions

MOST  IMPORTANTLY stay by the sea wall when walking near our salt marshes. Please don’t be tempted to roam across the marsh and, of course, keep dogs by the sea wall footpath too.  Curlew and whimbrel, even though they are our largest waders, are really hard to spot on the salt marsh. So because you may not see them don’t assume they are not there.  It is too late if you only see them when they fly off.

When left undisturbed our curlews and whimbrels will be able to feed and rest. We need them in prime condition to try to raise a family when the time comes. They will have their work cut out protecting their eggs and chicks from predators and other threats, so need to be healthy, rested and well fed.

Our support

You may also with to support organisations that are working hard to protect the curlews, for example:

• Curlew Recovery Partnership (RCP) is a partnership of all the major organisations involved in protecting the curlew.  You can see all of the organisations partnering the RCP on this page. If you want to be actively involved in saving the curlew this may be a good organisation to contact.
• Curlew Action are part of the Curlew Recovery Partnership (as are all of the organisations mentioned in this section). They are fundraising to save the curlew so if you cannot help in the field you could maybe donate or make a purchase from Curlew Action.
• WWT are running a Curlew Recovery Programme. As part of this they are rearing curlew and releasing them into the Severn Estuary. So look our for ringed curlew on our salt marshes.

Find out more about our salt marsh curlew?

You can read more on our dedicated curlew page.

But what about the poor old Jaguar?

Well here are some links to organisations trying to save this wonderful creature.

• WWF Jaguar
• Rain Forest Alliance

Please note that the Friends have no connection to any of the organisations listed on this page. So it is up to you to check their validity.

See our salt marsh index for fascinating salt marsh facts