From:Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, have today (Friday July 3rd) announced details of a new collaboration involving conservation groups in Ireland and the UK which will provide a major boost to the curlew population in Ireland.

A new licencing arrangement between Ireland and the UK will allow for the importation of curlew eggs to supplement the curlew population in Ireland. Under this arrangement, eggs collected from the stable curlew population on the Yorkshire Dales are transported to Ireland under the care and supervision of conservationists in the UK and Ireland. They are cared for at incubation facilities in Ireland until the chicks are ready for release. Twenty chicks were released today marking this new, ambitious conservation effort to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of decline in Ireland.

This unique conservation initiative is the result of a collaboration between the Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership (EIP) and the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group, and is supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.

“Huge efforts have been made by conservation groups, communities and landowners to protect the distinctive Curlew with its unmistakable, bubbling call. Now we’re accelerating our actions and giving this vulnerable species the shot in the arm that it needs to survive and thrive in our landscapes.”

“This landmark licencing arrangement is in place with UK authorities for the next five years. That means we will add 200 birds to the existing curlew population by 2030. The scale of this intervention is unprecedented and will bolster existing conservation efforts. It will boost breeding numbers, support recovery of the species and strengthen the long-term viability of curlew in Ireland.”

“In parallel I’m committed to work with communities and landowners to develop targeted actions to protect and restore the habitats needed by these amazing birds, as part of the national Nature Restoration Plan.”

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, welcomed the initiative and said:

“This is great news and shows the ambition and determination of the Breeding Waders EIP to explore and pursue novel approaches to conservation. This joint initiative with the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group is the perfect example of how EIPs bring like-minded people together to overcome challenges and achieve outcomes that would not have happened otherwise. I look forward to hearing how the chicks get on in their new home and wish the team every success with this exciting new venture.”

The curlew population in Ireland is estimated to have declined by 98% since the 1980s. Curlew conservation efforts to date by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Breeding Waders EIP and other projects have focused on protecting the existing breeding population through measures such as nest protection, headstarting and predator control. While data suggests small increases in recent years, the number of breeding curlew pairs in Ireland is estimated to be between 100 to 150.

Significant work has been conducted across both jurisdictions over the past year to facilitate importation of the eggs. In May this year forty curlew eggs from the Yorkshire Dales were carefully transported from the UK by the Breeding Waders EIP team for early-stage rearing at the Centre for Species Survival in Dublin Zoo. Once the chicks reached fifteen to twenty days old they were cared for at specially designed release aviaries by the Breeding Waders EIP team in order to acclimatise to natural conditions before their release.

Speaking about the initiative, the Breeding Waders EIP Senior Project Manager, Owen Murphy said:

“Initiatives such as headstarting, and this further step of egg importation, are not taken lightly. Detailed assessments of a species population to determine changes in abundance, density and distribution over time are combined with modelling of the impact of the proposed conservation actions on the species in question. This data informs our decisions and in this case showed the clear benefit of accessing additional eggs to supplement our headstarting programme. A huge thanks to the Yorkshire Dale Moorland Group for their willingness to work collaboratively, share knowledge and aid in our attempts to retain breeding Eurasian Curlew as an intrinsic part of the Irish landscape.”

Donal Beagan, Breeding Waders EIP Headstarting and Nest Protection Manager, highlighted the collaborative work involved in achieving this milestone:

“This is the culmination over nearly 12 months in the planning involving stakeholders on both sides of the Irish sea. It is great to now see it come to fruition and we believe that this is a real opportunity to stabilise our Curlew population whilst we work on creating and restoring better landscapes for these iconic wading birds to breed in. It has been enlightening to witness healthy breeding wader populations as a result of landscape management in Yorkshire and we are grateful for their contribution to our cause. Huge credit to the land managers, keepers and farmers in that area for helping to conserve a stronghold for breeding waders.”

Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General with the National Parks and Wildlife Service said:

“Science and partnerships have the power to transform even our greatest conservation challenges. The Breeding Waders EIP is breaking new ground in nature conservation.By bringing together communities, landowners, conservation organisations and international partners it is showing how fresh thinking can secure a future for some of our most vulnerable species. I would like to thank all involved – officials, scientists, landowners, volunteers and partners for their commitment, diligence and professionalism in meeting legislative and licensing requirements in both jurisdictions. Their dedication is helping to restore not only a species, but a cherished part of our natural heritage.”

Over the coming weeks the Breeding Waders EIP will continue to release curlew chicks at different locations around the country. A number of birds released are fitted with GPS tags so that their movements can be followed and tracked, adding to a growing body of knowledge about the species.

The Breeding Waders EIP initiativeis co-funded by the European Commission and the Irish Government under the CAP Strategic Plan. In this case, both the National Parks & Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will fund agri-environmental actions, while the National Parks and Wildlife Service will also fund the Operational Group’s administrative costs.

The Breeding Waders EIP Operational Group consists of Irish Rural Link in partnership with Michael Martyn Agri-Environment, Irish Wildlife Services, Hen Harrier Project, Atlantic Technological University, University College Dublin, Fota Wildlife Park and Dublin Zoo.

Further information on the European Innovation Partnership (AGRI) may be foundhere.

Fota Wildlife Parkis a conservation charity and is part of the Zoological Society of Ireland, located on 100 acres at Fota Island 10km east of Cork City. Fota Wildlife Park has an annual attendance of approximately 430,000 visitors. Fota Wildlife Park’s vision is to inspire people to understand and conserve the biodiversity of our natural world. The Park’s core values of conservation, education, and research have ensured that we are uniquely placed to foster

greater public understanding of the threats to plant and animal habitats and decreasing global biodiversity.

Dublin Zoois a conservation charity (Registered Charity No. 20003715) dedicated to saving wildlife and inspiring a passion for nature. Opened in 1831, it welcomes over one million visitors annually, with all income supporting animal care, habitats, and conservation projects in Ireland and worldwide. Dublin Zoo is home to the Centre for Species Survival: Ireland, an official partnership with the IUCN Species Survival Commission. One of fewer than 20 globally, the centre leads conservation action for native Irish species, bringing together key stakeholders and communities to drive impact and highlight success. Through expert care, education, and participation in over 30 international conservation and breeding programmes, Dublin Zoo works to protect endangered species and connect people with the natural world. VisitCentre for Species Survival - Dublin Zoo.