Endangered Curlews Make Epic Journey from Devon to the Algarve

Rare Curlews Tracked to Portugal

Some of the UK's most endangered birds, the curlews, have made an astonishing journey from Dartmoor in the UK to the Algarve in Portugal. These birds, reared and released this summer, traveled approximately 1,300 miles (2,092 km) to seek warmer weather.

Jon Avon, the curlew recovery project officer from the Duchy of Cornwall, reported that while many curlews were spotted around the South West estuaries in Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly, some ventured southward this year. Notably, three curlews were located in northern Spain, while two others successfully reached the Algarve and southern Spain.

The curlew species is listed on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List due to a significant decline in their numbers. A five-year project initiated in 2020 aims to boost curlew populations on Dartmoor, involving the collection of eggs, artificial incubation, and the release of young birds. To date, 107 curlews have been introduced, with 25 successful releases in August alone.

Some of these birds have been fitted with trackers, allowing researchers to monitor their migration. Although two wild pairs returned to Dartmoor this year, their nesting attempts were unsuccessful.

Eric Heath, senior project manager at the wetland restoration charity WWT, expressed delight at the sighting of the 'headstarted curlew' enjoying the winter sun in Spain and Portugal. He highlighted the importance of the coastal wetlands in Iberia as a vital link for the broader European curlew population. While the project is still in its early stages, there is hope for a resurgence of curlew numbers in Dartmoor and across the UK.