The haunting, bubbling call of the Eurasian curlew has been heard across the British countryside for thousands of years. But these extraordinary birds are disappearing.
UK breeding curlew numbers have fallen by more than 65% since the 1970s, making the curlew one of Britain’s fastest-declining breeding birds.
Scientists estimate that around 10,000 more curlew chicks need to survive and learn to fly every year just to stop the population from continuing to fall.
Why are curlews in danger?
Curlews nest on the ground, often in farmland, moorland and grassland.
Their eggs and chicks are vulnerable to predators and disturbance, while changes to farming and the loss of suitable habitats have made it harder for enough young curlews to survive.
Giant curlews take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks!
In April 2026, a team of walkers did something rather unusual to draw attention to the plight of the curlew.
They tackled the gruelling 24-mile Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge dressed as enormous curlews!
Leading the way were Cathy the Curlew, a 10-foot-long handmade bird costume, and her companion Heathcliff.
The team set out to raise £10,000 – one pound for each of the additional 10,000 chicks that need to fledge every year to help stabilise the UK’s curlew population.
Two days after the walk, the giant curlews travelled to the Houses of Parliament for a special World Curlew Day event, helping to bring the campaign to the attention of politicians.
The campaign raised awareness and funds for Curlew Action and the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, which work to protect curlews, their habitats and the landscapes they depend on.
How can children and families help curlews?
You don’t need to climb three mountains dressed as a giant bird to help!
You can:
- Keep dogs on leads near ground-nesting birds during the breeding season.
- Give nesting birds plenty of space and never disturb eggs or chicks.
- Learn to recognise the curlew’s distinctive call and record your sightings.
- Tell friends and family why curlews need our help.
- Support organisations working to protect curlews and their habitats.
- Make your own curlew puppet and use it to help spread the word!
Every person who learns about curlews and helps others understand why they are in danger can help give these extraordinary birds a louder voice.
Find out more about Curlew Action and discover how you can help protect curlews.
Make your own curlew puppet
Help children learn more about these extraordinary birds with our free curlew puppet activity.
Find out how to make your own curlew and use it to start a conversation about why wildlife conservation matters.