Current status
The stone curlew is a rare and declining species, numbers of which have fallen by 85% in the past 50 years, and more than 50% since 1960. It is now largely restricted to two areas of the country, Breckland and Wessex. The current UK population is estimated at 150-160 pairs.
The stone curlew is listed on Annex I of the EC Birds Directive and Appendix II of the Bern Convention. It is also protected under Schedule 1 of the WCA 1981.
Current factors causing loss or decline
Loss of semi-natural grasslands to arable farming, and reduced grazing by livestock and rabbits on the remaining grasslands.
Nest destruction in arable crops due to farming operations, such as mechanical hoeing.
Predation by foxes in semi-natural habitats.
Changes in agricultural practices resulting in fewer crops retaining an open structure until June or July.
Egg collecting.
Collisions with utility lines and fences.
Shooting in European countries while on migration.
Current action
Protection schemes, have been run by RSPB since the mid 1980s, to protect nest and young on arable land. This work is now included in a joint RSPB/NE Stone Curlew Recovery Project.
Most semi-natural grassland nest sites are SSSIs or military areas, but few are managed specifically for the species. NNRs supporting stone curlews are managed for them, i.e. Carenham, Martin Down.
The Brecklands and part of South Wessex Downs are designated ESAs. Rotation and non-rotational set-aside with some modifications may have helped the species.
Action plan objectives and targets
Increase the breeding population in the present UK range to 200 pairs by the year 2000.
Increase the population of stone-curlews breeding in England to 300 pairs by 2010.
Encourage re-colonisation of the past breeding range in England.
Increase the population breeding on semi-natural grassland to 120 pairs by the year 2000.
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
Consider the requirements of the stone curlew when establishing and reviewing agri-environmental schemes. (ACTION: MAFF)
Seek to ensure that the Breckland and South Wessex Downs ESAs, and Countryside Stewardship, take into account the requirements of the species, in particular grazing, heath and downland prescriptions, to reverse fragmentation. (ACTION: CC, NE, MAFF)
Encourage the uptake of schemes supporting the reversion of arable to heathland in ESA and Countryside Stewardship schemes within set aside to benefit stone curlew. (ACTION: MAFF)
Persuade the European Commission and Council of Europe to ban or discourage hunting of this species in any European country where it is traditionally shot. (ACTION: DoE, FCO)
Site safeguard and management
Encourage favourable management plans on all land in the former and current range of the species, including land currently held by the MoD and FE. (ACTION: NE, MoD)
Consider designating a SPA within Breckland. (ACTION: NE)
Species management and protection
Seek to protect nests and chicks on arable land. (ACTION: NE)
Monitor the effects of fox predation on nesting, and control if necessary. (ACTION: NE)
Discourage illegal egg collecting and seek to ensure offenders are prosecuted. (ACTION: DoE, NE, Police Forces)
Advisory
Provide training in stone curlew conservation for relevant conservation advisors, including ADAS, ESA, Countryside Stewardship and FWAG staff. (ACTION: NE, MAFF)
Ensure landowners and managers are aware of the presence, legal status and conservation requirements of this species, and appropriate methods of habitat management. (ACTION: NE)
Future Research and Monitoring
Investigate survival data on birds on arable sites compared with semi-natural sites. (ACTION: DoE, NE)
Monitor the UK stone curlew breeding population regularly to assess whether the action plan is attaining its objectives. (ACTION: NE)
Pass information gathered during survey and monitoring of this species to JNCC or BRC so that it can be incorporated in national databases. (ACTION: NE)
Provide information annually to Birdlife International on the UK status of the species to contribute to maintenance of an up-to-date global red list. (ACTION: JNCC)
Investigate the causes of stone-curlew nest failure on semi-natural habitats.
Investigate the effects of disturbance from road traffic on stone-curlew demography.
Communications and Publicity
Encourage birdwatchers to visit the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Reserve at Weeting Heath in Breckland to view stone curlews to highlight the decline and importance of the species and minimise the disturbance elsewhere. (ACTION: NE)
Links with other action plans
None given.
Publication details
Originally published in: Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report - Volume II: Action Plans (December 1995, Tranche 1, Vol 2, p100)
Related links
ARKive Visit the ARKive website to view images and further information relating to this species