How Predation Threatens the Survival of Headstarted Curlews
- Rob Beeson
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The Eurasian Curlew, a familiar sight across Britain’s moorlands, is one of Europe’s most threatened wading birds. Its steep population decline is largely due to poor breeding success, driven by habitat loss and high rates of predation.
To counter this, conservationists in Poland have trialled headstarting - collecting Curlew eggs from the wild, rearing chicks safely in captivity, and releasing them once they can fly.
Between 2017 and 2021, 62 headstarted Curlews fitted with GPS tags were monitored after release. The study found that only 42% survived long enough to begin migration, with most deaths (over 60%) occurring in the first week.
Every known death was due to predation, mainly by mammals such as foxes. Around two-thirds of attacks happened during the day.
Predation risk was strongly influenced by the surrounding landscape. Birds released near roads, ditches, trees, or farm buildings were far more likely to be killed. These features provide easy access and cover for predators. The study found that the chance of predation was highest:
Near dense networks of ditches and roads
Close to trees, which serve as perches for birds of prey
Near rural settlements, where foxes, dogs, and cats are active at night
The research suggests that survival could be improved by choosing release sites carefully, avoiding areas with many linear features or nearby farms, and by managing habitats to make them wetter and less accessible to predators.
Measures such as tree removal around release sites, improved predator control, or “soft release” methods (where birds are gradually acclimatised) could make a difference.
Although survival rates were comparable to those of wild-raised Curlews, most losses came too early for birds to contribute to future breeding populations. Understanding and addressing these early threats is vital if headstarting is to help restore Curlew numbers.
Takeaway
To give young Curlews the best chance of survival, releases must take place in well-managed landscapes with fewer predators, echoing the lessons long known by gamekeepers and moorland managers about the importance of habitat design and predator control.
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