Endangered curlew numbers boosted on Dartmoor

Breeding numbers of a bird species which was “close to disappearing” in part of Devon have recovered, organisers of a project have said.

The Duchy of Cornwall said the Dartmoor Curlew Recovery Programme had been running for five years at the national park in an attempt to boost curlew numbers.

The project aimed to increase the population of the bird, which has been classed as endangered by the RSPB and had one or two breeding pairs on Dartmoor for more than 20 years, the Duchy said.

It added that through the project, the population in the park had risen to at least four pairs of curlews with 11 confirmed breeding territories, taking numbers to their highest level for about three decades.

The project, funded by the Duchy and the King Charles III Charitable Fund, has been run in partnership with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Natural England and the RSPB.

Methods used in the project include headstarting – the collection of endangered bird eggs from the wild to be incubated in captivity until the chicks are strong enough to fly – and the restoration of moorland and meadow habitats.

Matthew Morris, the Duchy’s rural director, said the project had been a “significant moment” for the moor.

“Curlew were close to disappearing as a breeding bird from Dartmoor,” he said.

“The progress made over these five years shows how nature can respond when the right conditions are restored and when land managers, farmers and conservation partners work together.”

Jon Avon, curlew recovery project officer for the Duchy, said the recovery had been encouraging, but more work was needed.

He said: “While progress has been made, the recovery is still in its early stages, and the next phase will allow us to continue the practical work needed to support long-term breeding success across both curlew and other endangered bird species.”