Curlew
General Information
The Eurasian Curlew is the largest European wading bird. Here in the UK we have a quarter of the whole European population. Having wintered in coastal locations, in the spring and summer, they migrate to their breeding grounds in upland areas of rough pasture, heather moorland and wetland. Once a common sight across Ireland and the UK and their distinctive calls could be heard along coasts and across farmland, in the lowlands and uplands.Today, widespread changes to our countryside have seen their numbers dramatically decline, especially over the last 40 years. In Southern Ireland curlews have decreased by over 90%, in Wales by over 80% and on average we have lost 60% throughout England and Scotland since the 1980s.
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Curlews are scarce in the Lake District but can still be found in Matterdale and its surrounds. Curlew Action is one of the bodies working to support them.
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More information about the birds can be found on the Curlew Action website.
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