Scotland’s wildlife is amazing, but it's in crisis. We want to see greater protection for all nature and greater commitment to action on species recovery specifically, including for some of Scotland’s most iconic wildlife. In today’s blog Thijs Claes, Curlew LIFE Project Manager, tells us why he's picked Curlews as his favourite Scottish species.
Why are Curlews important to Scotland?
With their seasonal and daily movements, Curlews are like a glue connecting various important habitats together with nutrient flows. Little can compete with Curlews for being bridge builders either. They evoke strong emotions and inspire people from all sorts of backgrounds, and that is exactly what we need to take environmental protection seriously on a large scale.
Tell us about a time you saw a Curlew in real life/up close?
I received an exciting text message towards the end of July last year. A curfew (collective noun for Curlews) of 14 fledglings were feeding on a freshly cut field. I immediately dropped all my work, fixed my scope onto the tripod, and went out to enjoy the spectacle. For the first 5 minutes, the oversized chicks were wary of my silhouette lurking from behind the silage bails, but I managed to enjoy their clumsy walk and soft calls for about an hour. What a way to enjoy a sunny afternoon.
Where do Curlews usually live?
Curlews are an icon in many Scottish landscapes and environments. In winter they contribute a melancholic tone to the orchestra of waders and wildfowl on the mudflats, saltmarshes, and rocky shores on the coastline. Moving further inland, they announce spring in moorland, extensively managed farmland and most abundantly in the Scottish wetlands such as bogs and fens.
Curlew. Andy Hay
What do Curlews need to survive/thrive?
Curlews are not picky, but they like variety in a large open landscape. Give them wet areas, some drier fields, and a mosaic of patches with low to medium vegetation height. In such a dynamic, varied landscape, Curlews are great at hiding and protecting their vulnerable nests from predators. The chicks will find plenty of insects to eat in the mixed grasses, while adults indulge themselves on high numbers of earthworms in slightly drier and richer fields. Providing enough of these habitats on a large scale is the most sustainable way to mitigate the currently high predation pressures.
What’s a fun/surprising fact about Curlews?
When leaving the nest, an incubating bird will sometimes pick up vegetation in their long beak and gracefully flick it over its shoulder to cover the nest. Curlew eggs are well camouflaged with their beautiful collection of browns, greens, and blues, but a little bit of extra camouflage seems justifiable to protect the vulnerable nests.
Can you tell us a short personal story about Curlews?
I have a secret Curlew-detector living in my neighbour's back garden. When it is still too early in the year to reliably see Curlews in my local area, Starlings suddenly start imitating their calls. I believe they must pick them up from Curlews flying towards their breeding grounds. I have come to associate these whistles with the start of spring, so the interaction between these two bird species makes spring arrive a little bit earlier for me every year.
Learn more about our #SaveScotSpecies campaign here, and pick your favourite species here. Don’t forget to send our digital postcard to your MSPs asking them to make species recovery a priority.
Main image: Two Curlews in long, green grass. Thijs Claes.
I agree with this suggestion. The protection of wildlife is a necessary and urgent activity when species are decreasing. The recovery of some of Scotland's most iconic species, among others, requires greater protection for all of nature and a commitment to better action for species recovery happy wheels.