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| Wayne Gillatt's handsome study of a juvenile Goshawk in a North Lincolnshire woodland graces the front cover of the 2024 Lincolnshire Bird Report which has just been published |
THE importance of Ministry of Defence airfields to breeding Curlews is explored in the recently-published 2024 Lincolnshire Bird Report.
A survey conducted by members of the Lincolnshire Bird Club and the RAF Ornithological Society - with support from the BTO and Natural England - put the number of pairs in six airfields "in the order of 30 pairs".
By way of context, the total population of breeding Curlews in this large lowland county may number no more than 35 pairs.
The advantage of airfields as nesting habitat for ground-nesting birds is that perimeter fencing excludes foxes, dogs and unauthorised human visitors, thereby reducing disturbance.
On the downside, the birds - especially in flight - pose a potential collision risk, so historically they have been culled.
More recently (as outlined in this new survey), their eggs have been taken from the nest and used in a captive rearing programme known as 'head-starting'.
Says the survey's author, Phil Espin: "Without some kinds of intervention, one has to wonder what the Lincolnshire Curlew population will be by 2030."
"One thing this survey shows is that the resilience and persistence of the species in the face of adversity.
"It has hung on here over the last century, and let us help it to continue to do so if we can."
Edited by county recorder Phil Hyde, the bulk of the Lincolnshire Bird Report consists of a systematic list of the individual species recorded in 2024.
However, there is also space in the 240 pages - plus covers - for other fascinating features such as one on probable breeding of Firecrests at a site in the north of the county and another on the first Black-faced Bunting to be recorded in the county.
The report can be purchased for £10, plus 2.80 post and packing from Bill Sterling, 5 Carlton Avenue, Healing, N.E. Lincs DN41 7PW.
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