Curlew chicks released after eggs rescued from wildfire

Four endangered curlew chicks have been released into the wild, marking a small victory for conservation efforts after their eggs were rescued from a wildfire on Slieve Beagh in Co. Fermanagh. The wildfire broke out on April 30, threatening one of the few remaining breeding grounds for this critically endangered species on the island of Ireland.

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My heart was sinking as I drove towards it because I could see it was that bog. I could see our little fence and the fire moving towards it.

Conservation Advisor Róisín Normanly described the tense moments as she drove towards the fire, seeing the smoke rising over the bog where the curlew's nest had been located. "My heart was sinking as I drove towards it because I could see it was that bog. I could see our little fence and the fire moving towards it," she said. The nest had been found and fenced the previous morning, representing the first one discovered in the area this year.

With approximately 150 pairs of curlews remaining in Northern Ireland, each nest is considered vital. "To lose one, we had just found and we're doing our best to protect was a daunting prospect," Normanly stated. Emergency permission was granted by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to move the eggs if necessary. Firefighters worked to contain the blaze while the parent birds circled overhead, attempting to ward off predators.

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These birds are one of the highest conservation concerns in Northern Ireland. There are about 150 pairs. Each one is vital and important. To lose one, we had just found and we're doing our best to protect was a daunting prospect.

Ultimately, the decision was made to lift the eggs due to the prolonged period without incubation and the significant disturbance from the fire. The eggs were carefully transported and placed in an incubator. While this rescue was successful, Normanly noted that other ground-nesting birds, such as meadow pipits and skylarks, could not be saved. The chicks were successfully hatched and reared in captivity, a process taking about 50 days before their release back into the wild.

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We were able to save the curlew in this case, but there were other meadow pipits and skylarks nesting on that bog that we couldn’t save.