Latest news with #EurasianCurlew
BBC News
24-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Curlews 'flying beautifully' after Elmley Nature Reserve release
A flock of curlews has been released into the wild at a nature reserve in Kent as part of a major conservation effort to restore populations of one of the UK's most threatened wading chicks, hatched and reared in captivity at Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey, are now young adults and flying free in their new release is part of a wider programme aimed at restoring breeding populations in areas where they have been Higgs, who oversaw their care and watched the release, said: "I'm over the moon. It couldn't have gone any better. All the birds we let go are flying beautifully." Over the past 40 years, populations of the Eurasian curlew – known for its distinctive long, downturned bill and haunting call – have plummeted, particularly in southern England and birds, which nest on the ground, are attacked by predators such as foxes and stoats. Philip Merricks, a farmer, landowner and conservationist, explained that rearing the birds in captivity "just gives the young curlew a chance". The eggs were collected from nests in North Yorkshire, which were in vulnerable positions such as next to footpaths. They were incubated there for three weeks before being transported to Kent. The young birds were then raised in specially designed aviaries before their release at eight weeks old. Another batch will be released next week. This is the third year that curlews have been reared and released this way at the reserve, but although they can currently be spotted at Elmley, they do not yet breed warden Simon Ginnaw said curlews tended to return to the place they were born to lay their own eggs as a survival strategy. He added: "They breed when they are three years old, the project is now three years old so next year, 2026, hopefully the first birds will come back and establish breeding here."The reserve is asking people to report sightings to them, including pictures of the special rings that have been attached to the birds' rings have letters on that can help experts map the distribution of the birds.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu records 397 wetland bird species, 401 terrestrial bird species in synchronised survey
A total of 397 bird species were recorded in the wetland bird survey, while 401 species were identified in the terrestrial bird survey this year, according to the synchronised bird survey report released by Forests Minister R.S. Rajakannappan during the inaugural of International Biodiversity Day events on Thursday. The wetland survey revealed that 397 species are directly or indirectly associated with wetlands. Notably, 136 long-distance migratory species were observed, making up 34% of the total species recorded. Key bird species observed in wetlands include the Greylag Goose, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Curlew, Pied Avocet, and Lesser Crested Tern. Surveys were conducted across 934 wetland sites, with all forest divisions instructed to cover approximately 20 locations per district. In terms of species richness, the districts of Coimbatore, Erode, and Dindigul recorded more than 200 species each. 1,093 locations covered The terrestrial survey covered 1,093 locations across urban, rural, and protected areas, again aiming for around 20 spots per forest division. The survey identified 401 bird species associated with terrestrial habitats, with 2,32,519 individual birds directly counted. Of the birds identified, 41% are long-distance migrants, and 6% are either partial migrants or local migrants. Noteworthy species recorded include the Ashambu Laughingthrush, Indian Nightjar, Black and Orange Flycatcher, Lesser Fish-Eagle, Nilgiri Pipit, Brown Fish-Owl, and the Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon. Speaking about the importance of biodiversity conservation, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, stressed that it must be addressed in conjunction with climate change, human impact, and habitat preservation. She noted that in the past four years, over two lakh hectares of forest areas have now been brought under legal protection. 7,000 hectares of new forest areas have been created, which contributes significantly to the protection of both habitats and species, she said. During the event, the Minister also distributed awards to forest officials and divisions, along with non-governmental organisations, for their significant contributions. Headmasters of tribal schools managed by the Forest Department were honoured for achieving the highest pass percentages. The event was attended by senior forest officials including Srinivas R. Reddy (PCCF & Head of Forest Force), Mita Banerjee (PCCF, Research & Education), Rakesh Kumar Dogra (PCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden), Debasis Jana (PCCF, Administration), and I. Anwardeen (PCCF & Chief Project Director).
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Bird man' completes 53 mile walk - and five more local stories you missed this week
A man who dressed up as his favourite bird to highlight how endangered it is features in one of our best local stories of the week. Yorkshire Live reported how Matt Trevelyan walked 53 miles in a costume to resemble a curlew, the UK's most endangered bird. Elsewhere, a deaf woman from Cheltenham has featured in British Vogue magazine modelling a cochlear implant and a 79-year-old in the North East has been awarded her third university degree. You can read the full version of each of our selected articles through the links under each story – or read more top headlines from around the UK's regions on the Yahoo UK local news page. A dedicated bird enthusiast trekked an impressive 53 miles clad as a colossal curlew to shine a spotlight on one of the UK's most distinguished and imperilled avians. Matt Trevelyan, aged 46, embarked on the journey donning an outfit of his most cherished bird - the Eurasian Curlew - which is currently listed as endangered in Britain. His handmade attire, spanning 3m in length, was crafted using materials such as split bamboo, muslin, and polystyrene. Read the full story from Yorkshire Live A deaf woman has expressed her joy at achieving her "dreams" after being featured in British Vogue, sporting a designer cochlear implant. Imy Harris was born "profoundly deaf", meaning she had no hearing from birth. This shaped her early life as she navigated the world with a hearing impairment. Read the full story from Gloucestershire Live At the impressive age of 79, a pensioner has bagged her third degree, showcasing that age truly is no barrier to further education. Pat Wetherell, who used to run a sub-post office, celebrated her latest academic triumph - a master's degree in history - alongside family and friends. Originally from Charltons, near Guisborough, North Yorkshire, Pat completed her first degree back in the 70s – an Open Degree in humanities and understanding society. Read the full story from Teesside Live A woman from Newcastle who believed she'd be stuck in the struggle of the UK rental market forever now spends her days living in a van with her beloved dog, travelling up and down the country. Nicole Keefe, a 27-year-old photographer, has spent her life moving around, having lived in 18 different houses in total. So in September 2023, when her car was written off, she overhauled her routine and bought an £8,500 converted Ford Transit van, moving in with her dog, McCartney. Read the full story from Chronicle Live When it comes to rules, a list of dos and don'ts - and consequences for breaking them - seems more a little out of place for a pub in a seaside resort. But a list of "prehistoric" regulations is exactly what punters will find in place if they visit The Plough Inn in Whitby. The Baxtergate pub is certainly a bit like Marmite when it comes to popularity. A quick glance at TripAdvisor shows a mixed bag of reviews, with some urging people to "avoid like the plague" while others saying it was just the quiet and friendly watering hole they'd been looking for. Read the full story from Yorkshire Live A superfit dad aims to set a Guinness World Record at this month's London Marathon - dressed as a medal for his 50th and final race. Simon Couchman, from Lancaster, has to run in a time of under four hours in the 15kg costume to set an official record for the fastest marathon dressed as a medal. He ran his first marathon over 20 years ago when he was 29 years old dressed as a lobster - he dressed up as an astronaut for another. Read the full story from Lancs Live
New York Post
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Man treks 53 miles in bird costume to raise awareness about endangered species
A bird lover has walked 53 miles dressed in a homemade costume to raise awareness for one of Great Britain's most iconic and threatened birds. Matt Trevelyan, 46, walked the distance dressed as his favorite bird — the Eurasian Curlew — which is endangered in the United Kingdom. The DIY costume was 3 yards long and was made out of split bamboo, muslin, and polystyrene. The Farming in Protected Landscapes Officer walked with friends and family around the Nidderdale Way route, in the Yorkshire Dales in support for conservation projects. 6 UK man Matt Trevelyan walked 53 miles to raise awareness for the Eurasian Curlew in a costume that looks like the endangered bird. Nidderdale National Landscape / SWNS Matt said: 'The Curlew is my favorite bird and I've been saddened as their numbers have reduced massively around the UK. 'They have such a beautiful song — it pulls at your heart strings — it was great to hear it whilst walking the awareness raising adventure.' Matt completed the walk over Easter Saturday and Sunday in the run-up to World Curlew Day (April 21). 6 Matt's homemade costume was over 3 yards long. Alex Large / SWNS World Curlew day was created in 2017 by Mary Colwell to raise awareness of the declining numbers of curlews and the troubles they face due to habitat loss, land-use changes, and climate pressures. Starting at Pateley Bridge he walked 25 miles on day one which included a 14.5 mile trek to Middlesmoor before stopping for lunch then continuing a further 10.5 miles to Bewerley. Then on day two Matt walked and occasionally ran the remaining 28 miles completing the figure of eight shaped route back in Pateley Bridge. 6 Matt seen crossing a bridge in his Curlew costume. Jo Wright / SWNS Matt said: 'The walk was a joy — there were beautiful views and the weather was perfect. 'I underestimated how fast I could walk meaning I was trundling along for a solid 12 hours a day. 'The costume was fairly easy to walk in as it was very lightweight. 'As long as I pointed the beak in the correct direction and ducked underneath the occasional branch I was fine.' 6 Matt completed his journey ahead of World Curlew Day on April 21. Alex Large / SWNS Matt told it took him three days to create the costume which included a four yard long beak and hand-painted final details. He said: 'It was a lot of trial and error — but I'm glad it came out so well as I wanted it to be as beautiful as the actual bird. 'The hardest part to make was the head and the beak which was quite tricky but once that was out the way it was a lot easier to finish. 'I was never worried about the walk I just wanted to make sure I had done a good job with the costume. 6 Matt walked and occasionally ran through the 53 mile route in two days. Jo Wright / SWNS According to Matt, Nidderdale is one of the last remaining strongholds for the endangered bird. Numbers of the bird have halved over the last 20 years with now only 58,000 remaining in the wild. Matt has told this is due to a 'number of factors.' He said: 'Curlews are habitual meaning they will return to the same field every year to lay eggs and tend the hatchlings. 6 There are only 58,000 remaining Eurasian Curlews left in the wild. Jo Wright / SWNS 'They like quiet fields with tall grass — but these fields are frequently used by farmers to produce silage and in the process the tractors crush the eggs or kill the birds. 'It isn't just farming though that is causing damage — the UK also has large populations of crows and foxes which steal the eggs or meal on the birds. Matt hopes his walk inspires people to get involved with local conservation and 'engage' in nature 'responsibly.' He said: 'It would be great if people were able to contact with nature by being careful when engaging and enjoying. 'If we were to lose the Curlew we would lose a rich part of our wildlife and British Culture.'
BBC News
21-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Stroud Conservation charity hosts event to mark World Curlew Day
A conservation charity is hosting an event and unveiling a mural to raise awareness of an endangered Action is hosting a series of talks at Lansdown Hall in Stroud on Monday to inform people about conservation efforts for the Eurasian Curlew. The event also marks World Curlew Day, which began in 2017. The population of curlews is rapidly declining according to the charity, with only two chicks successfully arriving in Gloucestershire last Caldwell, director and founder of the charity, said: "It's so important that we bring endangered wildlife like curlews right into the middle of towns and cities so everybody can see them and begin to understand what's happening." Curlews were added to the Red List on the UK Conservation Status Report in 2015, reflecting the urgent action needed to protect to the RSPB, habitat redevelopment and intensive farming practices are likely to have contributed to declines in breeding are also impacted by predators. Ms Caldwell said the event on Monday will coincide with the charity's work to "spread the word, spread education and spread awareness" of the importance of protecting the endangered species."We'll draw attention to the plight of this lovely bird and people can see how wonderful it is."She added that "everybody has a role to play" in protecting the birds. The event to mark World Curlew Day begins at 16:00 BST at Lansdown Hall. The mural, painted by street artist ATM, will be unveiled on the side of Cafe 15 on George Street.
