February 2021: Curlew news and views

Russ writes:

Here, we provide a summary of CRP and general Curlew news and views for February 2021.

Uploaded 01 Feb 2021

Upper Thames Wader Group – interesting online presentations on Curlews:

https://www.curlewcall.org/upper-thames-wader-group-21-jan-2021/

Published 05 Feb 2021

Upland rush management advocated by agri-environment schemes increases predation of artificial wader nests (Mike Shurmer, our RSPB Steering Group rep is a co-author):

https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/acv.12672

Published 10 Feb 2021

EC Science for Environment Policy brief: Could rethinking predator management protect Europe’s ground-nesting birds? (based on paper by McMahon et al published in July 2020):

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/556na3_en_could-rethinking-predator-management-protect-europes-ground-nesting-birds.pdf

Released 10 Feb 2021

RSPB contribution to the debate on getting “the right tree in the right place” – Curlews mentioned:

https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/new-rspb-research-highlights-why-woodland-expansion-needs-a-strategic-approach/

Uploaded 18 Feb 2021

Some fascinating insights into the range of migration strategies and wintering locations shown by Curlews breeding in Germany, with several spending the autumn and winter months in England:

https://www.curlewcall.org/satellite-tagged-curlews-from-north-rhine-westphalia-germany/

Uploaded 20 Feb 2021

Great to see Curlew feature at No.3 in the Country Life list of top British birdsongs!

https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/the-8-best-birdsongs-youll-hear-in-britain-222860

Published 23 Feb 2021

Another example of the growing tensions between afforestation and Curlew conservation:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/23/row-over-uk-tree-planting-drive-we-want-the-right-trees-in-the-right-place

Uploaded 24 Feb 2021

And a timely reminder that in some parts of the country we still need to be careful about revealing locations of nests:

https://www.birdguides.com/news/man-admits-to-stealing-200-wild-bird-eggs/