Conservationists are raising endangered curlew chicks to aid their recovery. The species has experienced a significant decline and have been included in the UK Red List, indicating their endangered status and the need for external conservation efforts.
Endangered curlew chicks from 40 eggs are being hand-reared to improve their survival chances compared to leaving them in the wild. The chicks, which hatched in May, will be released at Elmley Nature Reserve in Kent.
According to Gareth Fulton, the manager of the reserve, there are currently 250 breeding pairs of curlews in lowland England. However, without intervention, this number is projected to decline to zero within the next 20 years. The decline is attributed to increased human activity, including intensified land use, early grass cutting, and increased presence of rubbish, which attracts foxes that prey on curlew eggs.
Curlews, like other wading birds, have a tendency to return to their birthplace for breeding. By releasing the hand-reared curlew chicks at Elmley Nature Reserve, conservationists hope that these birds will establish a new colony in the area.
Source: BBC