The curlew was once a common sight across Northern Ireland, but numbers have fallen by more than 80% since the 1980s. The Curlew LIFE project identified five areas across the UK suited to supporting the declining breeding waders, including the two in Northern Ireland.

The RSPB NI said the efforts of dedicated staff and local farmers working in partnership through the Curlew LIFE project meant numbers are increasing again. | UTV News

An “incredible improvement” in curlew numbers in Northern Ireland is being celebrated. The distinctive birds, with their long bills and hauntings calls, were once common in the region but had declined by almost 82% since 1987 to just 150 breeding pairs and were described as facing the threat of extinction.

The RSPB NI said the efforts of dedicated staff and local farmers working in partnership through the Curlew LIFE project meant numbers are increasing again. The UK-wide four-year project, funded by the European Commission LIFE Programme,