Can you hear the curlew? Help us find where they still call home

In this blog, farmer and NRW’s lead officer on curlew conservation, Bethan Beech reminds us of the work that is happening this spring to help the much loved curlew in the Welsh countryside.

What’s the survey about?

The Wales Breeding Wader Survey will take place from 16 March to 18 April this year and will focus on curlew, while also recording breeding lapwing, snipe, golden plover, dunlin and redshank.

Surveyors will visit selected 1km squares in March, spending up to an hour in each. If no curlews are found, a second visit will take place to the same place in April.

They will use vantage points where possible, avoid disturbing land or livestock, and will only be recording wading birds.

Why your help matters

The Welsh Government-funded survey is part of a wider effort to support Welsh farmers in protecting the wildlife that makes our countryside unique - recognising the role farmers play as custodians of the land.

The survey will:

• Ensure that tree planting activities follow a “right tree, right place” approach, without encroaching on curlew habitat
• Improve the accuracy of existing assessments, rather than adding new requirements
• Support future habitat management through schemes like the Sustainable Farming Scheme

We aim to survey up to 1,200 squares, potentially involving 3,000–4,000 holdings across Wales.

What you can do

If your land has been identified in the survey area, you will have received an email or letter from NRW in November or December last year asking for permission to carry out the survey.

Thank you to all those who have responded.  We will respect your decision to allow or not allow your land to be included in the survey area.

Surveyors will also be using Public Rights of Way in the wider countryside to gain access to the areas selected for survey.

By giving your permission, you are playing a vital part to make sure that the call of the curlew can continue to echo across the Welsh countryside for years to come.

Learn more about curlew conservation in Wales.

 

Curlew image by: Gary Jones/ Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape