Curlew update from Banbury Ornithological Society
This summer, Banbury Ornithological Society members and volunteers found and monitored 7 curlew nests in the Edgehill and Napton areas. They also monitored two further nests in the Upper Cherwell area.
A total of 8 eggs hatched in the Edgehill area and, of these, 5 curlew chicks fledged successfully. In the Napton area, 8 eggs hatched and one chick fledged successfully. Most of the nests were protected with electric fences – which really improves egg survival, predators being the greatest threat to them.
The team are very grateful to all the farmers who support the curlews and to all who have generously donated to the curlew funding initiatives. They are also very grateful for support from the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment, the Cotswolds National Landscape and the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme. There is more information about curlews here: Curlew Recovery Partnership.
All the photographs were taken by Mark Hunter.
