Nine headstarted curlew reintroduced to wild on Lough Ree near Athlone

Nine headstarted curlew have been reintroduced to the wild on Lough Ree near Athlone.

The Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership (EIP), in collaboration with project partner Fota Wildlife Park, has successfully released nine headstarted Curlew as part of it's 2025 headstarting programme.

The release took place on Sunday, July 13, on Inchbofin, Lough Ree.

Headstarting involves collecting Curlew eggs from the wild, incubating them, and rearing the chicks until they are strong enough to be released. Once the birds reach fledgling stage, they are returned to the wild, significantly increasing their chances of survival during the most vulnerable period of their lives.

This method dramatically increases survival rates for vulnerable ground-nesting species like the Curlew, whose populations have been decimated by habitat loss and predation. The goal is to boost the population of threatened or endangered species by ensuring that a greater number of individuals reach adulthood and are recruited into the wild breeding population.

The Eurasian Curlew, a ground-nesting bird, is vulnerable to land-use change and predation. Since the 1980s, their population in Ireland has declined by over 98%, leaving approximately one hundred breeding pairs.

These nine Curlew were reared at Fota Wildlife Park and spent the past three weeks in a release pen on Inchbofin to support their continued development before release last Sunday.

Lough Ree is a designated Special Area of Conservation; it is one of two sites in Ireland which has been identified as a suitable Curlew release site. These release sites are crucial for Ireland’s breeding Curlew population and serve as important migratory passageways.

Large numbers of post-breeding and wintering Curlew gather at this location. Lough Ree offers reduced predation risk due to long-standing predator management and its natural water boundaries, which limit access for mammalian predators. Additionally, the land is farmed traditionally, resulting in diverse, nutrient-rich soils that support the birds' health.

The presence of breeding, post-breeding, migrating, and wintering wader species nearby allows juveniles to integrate with other populations and quickly learn essential behaviours such as roosting site selection and migration routes.

As part of the headstarting process, the birds have been ringed and flagged for easy identification. They have also been fitted with GPS trackers which will provide valuable dataon their movements and behaviour. This will help determine whether these headstarted birds return to Lough Ree to breed in the coming years.

Mike Connell, landowner on Inchbofin, welcomed the reintroduction, adding that he is "delighted to have them back on the island".

The Breeding Waders EIP Senior Project Manager Owen Murphy: “In conservation—especially when working with ground-nesting birds—you can face many setbacks. These birds are incredibly vulnerable, with both eggs and chicks exposed on the ground. That’s why days like today are so important. Seeing nine healthy, fledged Curlew released back into the wild, immediately feeding and adapting, is a hugely rewarding outcome after months of hard work.

"With only approximately one hundred breeding pairs left in Ireland, today’s release is significant for the Curlew, a species that has suffered a devastating decline since the 1980’s. Lough Ree offers a uniquely secure environment—free from mammalian predators and surrounded by traditionally farmed land that supports the birds’ needs. It’s an ideal site for giving these birds the best possible start.”

"A special thank you to Mike Connell and his family, who generously hosted the release pen on their land at Inchbofin. Mike has been a dedicated supporter of the Breeding Waders EIP project from the very beginning, providing the team with round-the-clock access to his land throughout the crucial preparation period leading up to the release.

The second and final release of the remaining seven headstarted Curlew will take place on Lough Corrib in the coming weeks.

To learn more about the 2025 Headstarting Programme, visit www.breedingwaders.ie or follow the Breeding Waders EIP on social media.