A total of 15 young Curlew have been released into the wild from Lough Ree and Lough Corrib under the national “Headstarting” programme.
Nine of the young were released from Lough Ree on the Shannon system in mid-July, followed by six from Lough Corrib in the west on July 25th.
Under the programme run as part of the Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership (EIP), Curlew eggs were located, gathered, and brought to Fota Wildlife Park in Cork for incubation and hatching before being returned to the team for phased release back to the wild.
Egg collection from the wild Photo: Breeding Waders EIP
Two carefully selected release sites, Lough Ree and Lough Corrib, were chosen for their long-standing predation risk management, natural water boundaries, and traditional farming practices.
Team transport Curlew to release pen L-R Mike Connell (Landowner), Cathryn Hannon (NPWS), Owen Murphy; Annie Birtwistle (Breeding Waders EIP), Jess Hodnett; Sinéad Donnachie (Fota Wildlife Park) Photo: Fota Wildlife Park
“These conditions support rich biodiversity and provide an ideal environment for young Curlew to thrive. The presence of other wader species in these areas also helps the juveniles learn key behaviours such as roosting and migration,”the Breeding Waders EIP says.
Curlew chicks in Fota Wildlife Park: Photo Fota Wildlife Park
The programme is jointly funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon paid tribute to those involved in what he called “this latest milestone in their work to protect the Curlew population”.
“I also want to commend the local farmers for providing access to their land to the EIP team, both for the identification of nesting sites and the release of the young birds,”he said.
“Their cooperation is critical to the success of this project and we very much value their support.”
“Headstarting” is an emergency conservation measure, used when species face critical population declines. It involves collecting eggs from the wild and rearing the chicks in a controlled environment until they are strong enough to be released, significantly increasing their chances of survival during the most vulnerable stage of their lives.
With only an estimated 100 breeding pairs of Curlew remaining in Ireland, “Headstarting” is a “vital intervention to guarantee productivity and help drive population stability”, the programme says.
Owen Murphy, Senior Project Manager, Breeding Waders EIP, said that the release of 15 fledged young birds into the wild in 2025 was “made possible because of strong working relationships between landowners, project staff, project partners, NPWS, DAFM and local communities”.
GPS tagging Curlew by Seán Kelly, NPWS Photo: Breeding Waders EIP
“I wish to commend the hard work, dedication and expertise of the EIP staff and partners, without whose love for the Curlew this would not have been possible. Lastly, to our released young birds, best of good luck, may you enjoy wild, free and productive lives in the years ahead,” he said.
