26 July 2000
EHS HIGHLIGHTS PLUMMETING NUMBERS OF CURLEW AND LAPWING IN NORTHERN IRELAND COUNTRYSIDE
A survey out today highlighted that the populations of two of Northern Ireland's favourite farmland birds, the Curlew and Lapwing, have been plummeting.
The survey was commissioned from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), by the DOE's Environment and Heritage Service (EHS). It shows that the number of breeding pairs was reduced by more than half between 1987 and 1999. Long term changes in farmland management are considered to be responsible for the decline.
In highlighting the plummeting numbers, Dr John Faulkner, Director of Natural Heritage in EHS, said: "Breeding Curlew declined from an estimated 5,000 pairs in 1987 to 2,119 in 1999 and breeding Lapwing declined from 5,250 in 1987 to 1,811 in 1999. Both species are now largely absent from the south-east of Northern Ireland. There are also signs of possible decline in two other breeding wader species, Snipe and Redshank. These results confirm the declines suggested in other recent surveys.
"Our concern is that some wader species could follow other farmland birds to extinction as breeding species in Northern Ireland. The Corn bunting, Grey partridge and Corncrake have all disappeared over the last 25 years. Only a decade ago Northern Ireland was considered one of Europe's strongholds for breeding waders, especially Curlew and Snipe.
"It is important that the rich diversity of our countryside is looked after. EHS is very concerned about the plummeting numbers of the Curlew and Lapwing. We are working with others, including farmers, conservation bodies and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, to put together plans which will address the problem as part of our comprehensive strategy for biodiversity."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The Curlew and Lapwing are two of Northern Ireland's most well known birds.
- The Curlew is our largest wader and is readily recognisable by its long down-curved bill and distinctive call (which gives the bird its name). In the breeding season it attracts attention with a gliding song-flight. In winter the bird is found in flocks on the seacoast which mostly comprise of birds that breed elsewhere in northern Europe.
- The Lapwing is green, black and white round-winged wader. In the breeding season it is instantly recognisable by its tumbling display flight and distinctive call which gives the bird its alternative name of "peewit". Like Curlew, large flocks can occur in winter especially on the coast but most of these birds breed elsewhere in northern Europe.
- Long-term changes in farmland management are considered to be largely responsible for the declines. Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe and Redshank nest and feed in wet marshy grasslands, of which there used to be many in Northern Ireland. Higher livestock densities in the last 35 years have encouraged the replacement of wet meadows and pastures with more productive uniform grasslands, by drainage, sowing vigorous grasses and applying fertilisers. The current study found that Curlew, Lapwing and Snipe avoid these agriculturally improved grasslands. However, for Lapwing, the loss of spring-sown crops may be an additional problem, while for Curlew previous studies have found that high levels of predation may be contributing to the decline.
- Further survey work on breeding waders in Lough Neagh and Lough Erne and on other farmland breeding birds is currently being undertaken by the RSPB for EHS and an action plan is being prepared for the Curlew.
- The existing study was commissioned by the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland from BTO, with local assistance provided by RSPB.
- For copies of the report (Henderson I, Wilson A and Steele D, BTO Research Report No. 234: Population Estimates & Habitat Associations of Breeding Waders in Northern Ireland, 1999: The Results of an Extensive Survey) and further information contact Richard Weyl on 028 90 546589.
- For further media information, please contact Philip Maguire, DOE Press OfficeTel 028 90540013 emailphilip.j.maguire@doeni.gov.uk