Curlews in Nature & Culture

As an umbrella species, protecting breeding curlews and their habitats benefits a range of other wildlife, and research suggests the feeding habits of wading birds such as curlews aid the stability of mudflats, help with carbon capture, and help to prevent erosion and flooding. Biological and environmental protection, however, is also cultural protection. Supporting the curlew, whose evocative calls have inspired a wealth of folklore, poetry and music, helps to ensure that pathways remain open to us for imagination and wonder.