Each year on April 21st, we celebrate World Curlew Day—a chance to spotlight one of the world’s most iconic and threatened bird groups. Curlews, with their haunting calls and sweeping wingspans, are far more than just beautiful birds. They’re living indicators of the health of wetlands, grasslands, and coastal habitats across the globe.
But they’re in trouble. And now more than ever, they need our help.
A Global Responsibility
While the Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) breeds widely across Europe and parts of Asia, the UK plays a disproportionately important role in its survival—holding roughly 27% of the global breeding population. In countries like Ireland, Estonia, Germany, and Sweden, curlew numbers are also in steep decline.
According to BirdLife International, the Eurasian Curlew is now Near Threatened globally, with major losses occurring not only in the British Isles but across much of its western range. Central European populations are increasingly fragmented. In the Netherlands and Denmark, large tracts of former breeding habitat have been lost to intensive agriculture and development.
In Eastern Europe and Russia, where large areas of intact steppe remain, the situation is slightly more stable. However, even there, curlews face pressures from land conversion, forestry, and increasing predation in fragmented landscapes.
In Kazakhstan and Ukraine, studies report shrinking populations in former strongholds. And across southern Europe, fewer curlews are seen during migration, reflecting the broader downward trend
Success Stories Worth Celebrating
Despite sobering numbers, there is real hope. Active conservation has already made a difference in some areas.
Northern Ireland’s Curlew LIFE Project, funded by the EU LIFE Programme and coordinated by RSPB, is one shining example. Over the past three years, local landowners, conservationists, and volunteers have worked to monitor nests, reduce predator threats, and improve wet grassland habitats. By using temporary electric fencing and close field monitoring, they’ve helped over 150 chicks fledge in just three years—a major boost for a species that’s been teetering on the brink.
Meanwhile in Scotland’s Orkney Islands, a bold predator control initiative aimed at eradicating invasive stoats has yielded promising results. Since the program began, curlew numbers have increased by 21%, showing that targeted conservation really can turn the tide when timed correctly.
In Finland, wildlife managers are experimenting with habitat restoration in former peatland areas to improve breeding conditions. Early results show increased nesting activity from curlews and other waders.
What We’ve Lost – And What We Can Learn
World Curlew Day also serves as a moment of reflection. Not every curlew species has been so lucky.
The Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) once migrated between Siberia and the Mediterranean, passing through Eastern Europe and North Africa. But despite extensive surveys, the species has not been definitively recorded since 1995, and BirdLife International officially lists it as Critically Endangered (possibly extinct).
The Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) of North America likely met the same fate. Once numbering in the millions, it was hunted to near extinction in the 19th century. Only a handful of credible sightings have been made since the 1960s.
These losses are tragic—but they are also powerful reminders of why today’s conservation efforts matter so much.
People Working Together for Curlews
Effective curlew conservation doesn’t happen in isolation. It takes people—local farmers, volunteers, researchers, birders—working together with shared goals.
Across Europe, organizations like BirdLife International, NABU Germany, and LIFE Curlew Spain are partnering with local stakeholders to manage nesting sites, reduce threats from predators, and educate communities. In France, nature reserves along the Loire estuary have become key staging sites for migrating curlews, and wardens now manage human access to minimize disturbance.
In Germany’s Lower Saxony, nature-friendly farming agreements are helping landowners protect nesting curlews while continuing to manage profitable grasslands. The collaboration between NGOs and government programs has shown that farming and bird conservation can go hand in hand.
How You Can Help – Wherever You Are
Even if you don’t live near curlew breeding areas, your actions still matter. Here’s how you can make a difference:
- Learn more about your local curlew species. In North America, watch for Long-billed and Whimbrel Curlews during migration. In Europe, keep an eye out along estuaries, moors, and wet grasslands.
- Respect nest zones. If you’re birding during the spring or early summer, stick to paths and leash your dogs to avoid disturbing ground nests.
- Get involved. Many bird conservation groups offer citizen science projects or need volunteers during breeding season.
- Speak up for wetlands. Healthy wetlands and meadows help curlews—and countless other species—thrive.
- Support habitat restoration. Even a small donation to a bird conservation group can help fund predator fencing, nest monitoring, or wetland restoration.
Final Thoughts
Curlews are more than just birds. They are sentinels—voices of wild places that are vanishing too fast. World Curlew Day is a reminder that their story isn’t finished yet. Conservation works. And with enough support, we can still secure a future for these long-billed wanderers.
If you’ve ever heard a curlew’s call echoing over a salt marsh or rising from a mountain meadow, you know how unforgettable it is.
Let’s make sure that sound never disappears
Have you seen a curlew recently? Share your sighting and story in the comments, or tag us on social media with #WorldCurlewDay.