Using land management and technology to secure a future for Stone-curlews

The use of electronic tracking has become well known as an effective tool for studying bird migration. But as RSPB scientists have recently discovered, the application of this technology alongside innovative land management techniques can also help shape the conservation strategy for one of Britain's rarer breeding waders.

As part of the society's ongoing research into Stone-curlews and the management of their habitats, a team of fieldworkers led by Rob Hawkes, RSPB Heathland Officer, fitted GPS tags to five birds breeding in East Anglia. Stone-curlews are a conservation priority in the UK: although the species is now on the increase, it remains a scarce and very localised breeder, and the rise in numbers is only as a result of intensive measures following a range decline which saw the population slump to just 168 pairs in 1991.

Stone-curlew (Photo: Chris Knights).

More recently, the species' use of heathland has also been affected in Breckland and other areas by a sudden crash in the numbers of Rabbits, which keep grassy areas very short — an essential requirement for Stone-curlews, which require closely grazed heathland and downland or short pasture in which to feed.

By using GPS tracking to learn more about how birds use different areas of the countryside, the RSPB wants to help landowners create optimal conditions to meet the species' nesting and feeding requirements. Ultimately, the aim is to achieve a sustainable Stone-curlew population in the UK — in terms of management and habitat requirements, as well as at a secure population level.

Releasing a Stone-curlew after tagging (Photo: Rob Hawkes).

Already, the project has produced some surprising results, as Rob Hawkes explained. "We knew that Stone-curlews are mainly nocturnal and forage at night, and when they have eggs the males and females take it in turns to sit on the nest while their partner settles nearby or goes off in search of a meal. Using the GPS tags we have discovered individual birds travelling much further from their nest to find food than had been known previously, suggesting the birds are prepared to travel a substantial distance to reach a favoured feeding site."

Rob Hawkes maps Stone-curlew movements using GPS data (Photo: Rupert Masefield).

These movements include the use of a range of different agricultural habitats for feeding, and also for nesting in areas where heathland has become less suitable. That can lead to a whole new set of problems when birds try and raise chicks in crops just before harvesting, necessitating the intervention of RSPB fieldworkers who liaise closely with farmers to save broods. While this has helped with breeding success and the population has risen to almost 400 pairs, it is unsustainable as a long-term practice and better land management is the ultimate goal.

Emily Field and Rob Hawkes examine one of the heathland test plots (Photo: Rupert Masefield).

Rob Hawkes and colleagues have been researching techniques to improve habitat and create ideal nesting plots on arable land. Ground disturbance is an important factor, so rotavating, ploughing and planting trials on a grid of test plots are helping identify the best strategy. This work, part of an EU LIFE+ project, is already having some success. Breckland farmer Robert Gough explained: "Like lots of farmers... we've been working with the RSPB and others for many years to help Stone-curlews nesting on our farm, and it has been very gratifying to see the positive impact these efforts have had on their numbers. This year we've had five pairs... on the seven specially created nesting plots we have on the farm as part of our agri-environment agreement.

"Because the nests were on safe plots and not in amongst crops, we didn't need to intervene or interrupt farming operations to avoid damaging them. The more we can encourage the birds to nest where they are safe the better — for them and for us — and that means creating safe places for them, on farmland and elsewhere."

Emily Field, RSPB Project Manager for the EU LIFE+ project, added: "Now we are looking to landscape-scale management to secure Stone-curlews' future in the UK by providing them with enough safe habitat to nest on [so] that intervention to protect nests is no longer necessary. The number of birds nesting on these safe habitats has steadily increased during the project."

While the work is bringing welcome results, however, its long-term future — and that of all projects funded by EU LIFE+ initiative — remains to be seen, with Britain heading out of the European Union and farmers uncertain about the future of agri-environment funding.