Curlew - 2003-07

By the 1980s it was estimated that only about 20 pairs were still breeding in Pembrokeshire.  Of these, the majority (13 pairs) were on Skomer, with the rest in the boggy areas of the Preseli Hills. Between 2003 and 2007 the number of tetrads in which they were found had shrunk to just two from 12 recorded during the 1984-88 period, a decline of 83%.

They were only confirmed breeding on Skomer where six to nine pairs nested during the 2003-7 atlas period. The breeding population in Wales is also in trouble - BBS records indicate a 33% decline in the population between 1994 and 2007 across Wales as a whole, based on 37 sample sites.

Further research is needed to determine if former mainland haunts in Pembrokeshire are capable of supporting breeding curlews again.

Bob Haycock

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 1

Orange = breeding probable = 0

Yellow = breeding possible = 1

Total tetrads in which registered = 2 (0.4%)