Since the 1990s the number of breeding curlews in the UK has halved. Unless we act now this much-loved bird of our uplands and estuaries could vanish from our shores. If we want to save the curlew, then we need to make the government of the UK sit up and take notice of their plight. Luckily, we are working with some politicians who are committed to championing the curlew’s cause.
In Scotland our species champion for the curlew is Lewis Macdonald, Member of Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland Region. Since first signing up to the project in 2016 Lewis has been a great advocate for curlew conservation, speaking about the bird at any opportunity in Scottish Parliament, in his local community and on social media.
Lewis MacDonald MSP North East Scotland
Last summer, Lewis joined us at a visit to Loch of Strathbeg in Aberdeenshire, an internationally important wetland site, to learn about (and join in with) our habitat conservation work for curlews.
Species champions in Scottish Parliament are invaluable assets for the species they represent, and we have been delighted to have someone as engaged as Lewis championing the curlew. His enthusiasm will no doubt be instrumental for ensuring that the curlew remains high on the Scottish policy agenda, a species which has declined by 62% there between 1994 and 2016.
Lewis MacDonald says: “Championing a species so well-known yet under threat as the curlew is something I really value. The curlew is a bird of both hill and shore, and so it is a strong symbol of the wealth of nature in North East Scotland and further afield. Our ability to sustain species like the curlew will be a good measure of our commitment to our natural environment in this age of climate change.
“I like a lot of things about the curlew, but most of all I like its hardiness. A bird which can keep its poise in all kinds of conditions on Scotland’s moors and coasts has to be admired for its persistence. The new challenges it faces are largely a result of human activity, so now is the time to give the curlew the support it so deserves.”
Over in Wales, our curlew species champion is Mark Isherwood, Assembly Member for the North Wales region. Since first signing up to the project in 2016 Mark has taken time to learn about these threatened waders and has actively raised awareness of the species both in local communities and within the National Assembly for Wales.
Mark Isherwood AM North Wales
Shortly after accepting the role as species champion Mark visited the curlew trial management project in Ysbyty Ifan in the North Wales uplands - one of six study areas in the UK – to see how the habitat is being specifically managed for the benefit of curlew.
Last year he highlighted the need for action to protect the curlew by making a statement in the National Assembly for Wales, where he called for wildlife-friendly farming grant schemes and better monitoring of breeding birds.
This summer, Mark will be attending the Hay Festival where he will join a diverse panel including author and activist Mary Colwell, and our own Director of Global Conservation Martin Harper, in order to celebrate this charismatic bird and look ahead to what can hopefully be a brighter future for nature.
For Mark, being a species champion “creates a sense of responsibility for – and duty towards – the threatened curlew. It’s important we have species champions in the Assembly because it creates both an individual voice for the species and a collective voice for wildlife under threat.”
His favourite thing about the curlew as “its otherworldly persona and ethereal voice”.
Mark is a fantastic advocate for the species, which declined by 81% in Wales between 1993-2006, and his enthusiasm and action could be instrumental in changing the fate of the curlew for the better.
It’s not just politicians who can help the curlew, you can too. Find out how here.