Curlew Blog

On Sunday whilst ‘normal people’ cheered the Lionesses on to their historic victory, Ornithologist Tony, Assistant aviculturist Katie, Trainees Jake & Becca and I released 11 chicks at a Welsh estuary bathed in late evening sunshine.  The sounds of other Curlews could be heard feeding and squabbling in the near distance and most of our …

Victory on the pitch and over 100 reached off it Read More »

To read part 1 of Tiny Tim’s tale click here The morning arrived and we were up at the stables for 8.30am, ready to get stuck into our cleaning and feeding duties. A quick look into each tank showed everybody accounted for, Tiny sitting down amongst the others of his brood, not unusual on occasion …

Tiny Tim: The Saga Continues… Blog by Amber Bicheno Read More »

It is not often that we name our Curlew chicks. For the most part we refer to them by their coloured band, preferring not to get overly attached to our small, fluffy charges. This does not in any way mean they do not present differing individual personality traits. As many of our volunteers will attest, …

The Story of Tiny Tim – Blog by Amber Bicheno Read More »

What does JP do all day? Specialist Generalist – Farmer liaison – Facilitator So Monday morning! First job of the day was to beg, borrow or steal an emergency de-humidifier and deliver it to Egg HQ, where it’s to be used to help control moisture levels in the incubator room. I managed to borrow one …

Curlew Country Introductions: JP Read More »

Curlew Cam and Educational Programme As the Curlew Cam nest approached hatching time, we launched an educational programme which will continue alongside our headstarting activities enabling young people of various ages to better understand Curlews and what they need. Recently we welcomed children from Farlow School who were visiting as part of the Common Cause …

Curlew Country – Mid season update by Amanda Perkins Read More »

Around the Shropshire Hills, the golden plumes of laburnum blossoms and the curlew’s call are a lasting reminder of the ways in which people in this area have shaped the countryside, from common moorland, to enclosed pastures and meadows. Laburnum is typically a small deciduous tree, with cascading, bright yellow flowers from the south of …

Laburnum and the Curlew Read More »

Hi all! My name is Katie and I’ve joined the Curlew Country team this season as the Assistant Aviculturist, bringing with me a background in captive breeding and husbandry of a variety of bird species across taxa and hemispheres. My journey in avian conservation started with a rescued Laughing Kookaburra, which I rehabilitated at a …

Curlew Country Introductions: Katie Read More »

Following on from our previous introduction, Jake, we would now like to introduce Rebecca, who has taken on the second volunteer trainee post. They will both be working with Amber Bicheno, learning as they help us raise the next generation of young Curlew. Read below to learn more about this new member of our seasonal …

Curlew Country Trainee Introductions: Rebecca Read More »

As ever, our Curlews are rather later to nest than in many other places in the country. When they start, we are always taken by storm in the race to collect and save eggs before the nests fail, usually due to predation. This year some new faces have joined us to help with the headstarting …

Curlew Country Introductions: Jake Read More »

We have been so fortunate to have Madeleine and Elspeth our two volunteer trainees working with us this season.  Headstarting work is testing and there have been further unwelcome ups and downs in the journey.  Both have done an amazing job and Madeleine has put in extra efforts to help during other staff absence, when …

Keeping ahead of the headstarting – Curlew Country Blog by Volunteer Headstarting Trainee, Madeleine Powell Read More »

Each season I hear the familiar phrase ‘leave it to mother nature’, well intended in its delivery.  I hear it from one or more people not convinced that curlew interventions are necessary.  I am always taken aback, unknowing how to respond quickly on the detail of the huge subject of biodiversity that occupies many minds …

Leave it to Mother Nature? Read More »