The Eurasian Curlew is a seasoned traveller. Its life follows the rhythm of great migrations – in spring (March to April), it returns to breeding grounds in Poland and Central Europe, and in August*, it sets off on a long journey to wintering grounds that stretch from the western coast of Europe all the way to North Africa.
Thanks to modern telemetry research using GPS transmitters, scientists have discovered that some individuals are capable of flying more than 2,000 km without stopping!During migration, curlews rely on a network of so-called stopover sites – places where they can rest and replenish their energy before continuing their journey. Unfortunately, with ongoing urbanisation and habitat degradation, these stopover sites are becoming increasingly scarce. Changes in agriculture and the transformation of natural wetlands into industrial areas make it ever harder for curlews to find safe places to rest.
If we could follow curlews on their migration, we would see them resting on the muddy coasts of the United Kingdom, feeding in the river estuaries of France and Spain, and covering hundreds of kilometres over the Mediterranean Sea to reach the warm lagoons of Morocco or Senegal. Sadly, more and more curlews perish during these journeys – climate change, the shrinking number of suitable habitats, and hunting in some countries threaten their future.
- Polish curlews depart between June and August – adults usually in June and July, while juveniles leave in July and August. This additional information comes from a curlew expert.
On the map to the left, the number of curlews wintering in Western European countries that originated from Polish breeding programmes is shown. On the right, the distance from Poland to Senegal is marked.
