Last weekend our BTO Wetland Bird Survey count resulted in a pleasing total of 73 Curlew already back in the Lower Derwent Valley 🐦
Numbers have increased from 30 at the start of the month, to 50 by the 7th, and many individuals can now be heard displaying over the flooded Ings, with their excited, bubbling calls one of the sounds that we love to hear each year – so evocative, and a key sound and sight of the Lower Derwent Valley and surrounding area. It was also interesting to note that two birds spotted at the weekend were individually identifiable from their colour-rings, and from our records show that they have chosen the same territory that has been used annually now for the last five years 🐥
Sadly, the Curlew is one of our most rapidly declining breeding bird species (showing a 46% decline across the UK from 1994-2010) and with the UK holding 28% of the European breeding population, the species has recently been listed as globally near threatened, but... fortunately, we do have good populations across the reserve, with up to 70 pairs recorded in recent years, and unlikely many places in the country, good levels of breeding productivity have been noted. We have also been busy working with the local farming community to delay hay cuts, and through our Responsible Recreation Project, to minimise disturbance to try and help these birds and ensure they have a safe stronghold for the years to come 🪶
Thanks to local wildlife photographer Stuart Campbell for the image, taken in a previous year in the Lower Derwent Valley 📸
