Don't let the call fall silent. Save the Manx Curlew.

For generations, the enigmatic call of the Curlew has echoed across the Isle of Man's hills, glens and farmland. It is one of our most distinctive and cherished birds, a symbol of wild spaces and a living part of our natural heritage.

Today, that call is at risk of disappearing.

Our latest island-wide survey has revealed that the breeding Curlew population has declined by an alarming 83% since the first Manx breeding bird atlas. In 1998, more than 400 pairs nested across the Island. In 2025, we found just 65 breeding pairs remaining.

Without urgent conservation action, Curlew could follow Lapwing towards local extinction as a breeding bird in the Isle of Man. But there is hope.

Unlike some species that have already been lost, Curlew can recover. Conservation projects elsewhere in Britain and Ireland have shown that when targeted action is taken, breeding success can dramatically improve and populations can begin to grow again.

With your support, Manx Wildlife Trust is working to ensure the Curlew remains part of our landscape for future generations.

Why Curlews Are Disappearing

Curlews nest on the ground in farmland, heathland and upland habitats. Their eggs and chicks face increasing pressures from:

• Predation by crows, feral cats, stoats and other predators
• Habitat loss and degradation
• Disturbance during the breeding season
• Agricultural operations that can unintentionally destroy nests
• Changing weather patterns that reduce chick survival

Our surveys show that many breeding pairs are struggling to raise young successfully. Without enough chicks surviving each year, the population continues to decline.

A Critical Moment for Curlew Conservation

In 2025, Manx Wildlife Trust's Farmland Birds Recovery Project identified breeding Curlew across the Island and worked directly with farmers, landowners and conservation partners to protect nests and improve habitat. There were encouraging signs.

At the Ayres, 26 breeding pairs were recorded. At MWT Glen Auldyn Nature Reserve, four breeding pairs were found. At MWT Dalby Mountain, at least three young Curlews successfully fledged. These successes demonstrate that conservation action works. Now we must expand these efforts before it is too late.

How Your Donation Will Help

Your support will help us:

• Monitor and protect breeding Curlew across the Isle of Man
• Work directly with farmers and landowners to safeguard nesting sites
• Create and restore suitable breeding habitat
• Trial nest protection measures that have proven successful elsewhere
• Train volunteers and undertake vital research
• Develop and deliver a dedicated Curlew Action Plan
• Ensure long-term conservation of this iconic species

Your Impact

£25 could help fund essential field monitoring equipment used to locate and protect breeding birds.

£50 could support volunteer training and surveys that identify breeding territories.

£100 could help provide nest protection materials and monitoring equipment.

£250 could contribute towards habitat management and direct conservation interventions on key breeding sites.

£1,000 could help fund intensive monitoring and protection work at one of the Island's most important Curlew breeding areas.

Donate today

Help protect one of the Isle of Man's most threatened birds and secure a future for the Manx Curlew.