Search for wintering Slender-billed Curlews

Skilled volunteer observers will scour more than 35 countries around the Mediterranean, Middle East and the Indian subcontinent this winter, in the hope of confirming the continued existence of Critically Endangered Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris. Once abundant around the Mediterranean in winter, Slender-billed Curlew is one of 47 ‘lost’ bird species that may now be globally extinct. The birds have not been seen at their last known wintering site, in Morocco, since 1995. Through BirdLife International’s Preventing Extinction Programme, the British Birdwatching Fair has provided funds to enable international search teams to travel to Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Syria, and to cover the expenses of four national search teams inAlgeria. Swedish BirdLife Partner SOF is funding an international search team to Sudan.

The RSPB/Birdfair Small Research Grants Programme is helping fund searches in Egypt and Iran. Many other searches are self-funded. If a Slender-billed Curlew is located, a rapid-reaction team will be deployed to fit it with a satellite tag in the hope of tracking it to its breeding grounds. The winter surveys will be followed by coordinated spring searches, with autumn searches of potential moult sites if funding can be raised. Birdwatchers are urged to report any possible sightings, new or old. To download the Slender-billed Curlew Identification leaflet click here (PDF 143KB). To download maps showing all Slender-billed Curlew records since 1900 click here (PDF 400KB). For more information visit the Slender-billed Curlew project website.