2013 was a bad year for stone-curlews. The cold weather extending through in to spring meant that productivity was low, and many of the adults died we. It is estimated that we may have lost up to 20% of the population in one season. However, this year told a different story. With a fine summer and good invertebrate food availability, the Wessex birds have been busy rearing and fledging chicks, providing the population with a well needed boost in numbers.
To celebrate, the RSPB and Salisbury City Council have teamed up with London-based street artist ATM to bring a stone-curlew right into the heart of Salisbury.
A mural of the bird will adorn the wall of the public toilet block at Queen Elizabeth Gardens, next to Lush House Car Park. ATM has been highlighting the plight of a variety of rare bird species across the capital and wider, and was happy to add a stone-curlew to the list.
ATM said; ‘It’s great to be able to show people a bird with such local relevance, and one that is still in need of our help and support. I hope the mural will brighten up the wall, as well as drawing people’s attention to the conservation of stone-curlews in this area.’
The Wessex Stone-curlew Project has been running for 30 years, during which time the population has increased due to partnership work by land managers, farmers and conservationists. Stone-curlews nest on the ground in open areas, including cultivated fields, where eggs and chicks are vulnerable to farm machinery. By working together, RSPB surveyors can locate the nests and mark them for farmers to avoid. Many landowners have also put in special nesting plots that provide safe habitat for the birds.
RSPB Community Engagement Officer, Lindsey Death, wanted to bring this story to local residents. Having seen ATM’s work in London, she approached him and Salisbury City Council about doing the stone-curlew mural. Once ATM was on board, the council were only too happy to support the initiative, providing a city-centre canvas for him to work on.
Most people have never seen or even heard of a stone-curlew, since it is well camouflaged, easily disturbed and largely nocturnal. But now Salisbury residents and visitors alike will be able to enjoy a larger than life version of the real thing.
Before: A "bog" standard toilet wall in Salisbury (Nick Tomalin RSPB)
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After: A life like giant stone-curlew! (Nick Tomalin RSPB)
Keeley