Biological Recording

This session from the European Curlew Headstarting Workshop was led by Katharine Bowgen from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and focused on post-release monitoring, exploring survival rates and effective methods for tracking released birds. Experiences were shared about where birds have been observed during the winter months and data were examined on their overwintering survival rates. Additionally, participants were invited to share insights and observations comparing the breeding success rate of headstarted birds versus wild populations.

8 Post Release Monitoring Presentation Download

Discussion with Katharine Bowgen

Dr Katharine Bowgen is a Senior Research Ecologist with the BTO, split between BTO Cymru and the Wetland and Marine Teams. She principally works with wader populations in the UK, observing their behaviours and habitat choices through the year and with her background in behavioural ecology she’s able to understand more about their behaviours and habitat preferences. A keen bird ringer she also works with several wader ringing groups to learn more about bird populations from a hands on perspective as well!

Coming soon…

European Curlew Headstarting Online Workshop

This blog was produced as an output of the European Curlew Headstarting Online Workshop, a virtual event delivered by Curlew Action and the Biological Recording Company. Check out the other presentations and outputs in the other blogs resulting from this event.

Check out events from Curlew Action

Check out events from the Biological Recording Company

For more information about this event, the speakers and the presentations see the event delegate pack below.

Headstarting Workshop Download

Curlew Headstarting: Releasing Birds

This session from the European Curlew Headstarting Workshop was led by Dr Alex Nicol-Harper from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) and focused on strategies for releasing Curlews into the wild. Discussions focused on the merits of hard versus soft releases, selecting optimal release areas, and the influence of existing wild populations. Headstarting projects contributed insights on predator management at release sites and observations on whether released birds tend to breed locally or disperse.

Discussion with Alex Nicol-Harper

Dr Alex Nicol-Harper is a Principal Research Officer in the Wetland Bioscience team at WWT. She uses her background in ecology and conservation, with a focus on population modelling and breeding biology, to advise on recovery projects for a range of bird species, including curlew and other waders.

Coming soon…

European Curlew Headstarting Online Workshop

Check out events from Curlew Action

Check out events from the Biological Recording Company

For more information about this event, the speakers and the presentations see the event delegate pack below.

Headstarting Workshop Download

Curlew Headstarting: Health & Disease

This session from the European Curlew Headstarting Workshop was led by Dr Sophie Common from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and provided an overview of veterinary considerations and managing disease risks in conservation projects. Key topics included the role of veterinarians, the implementation of biosecurity measures, and disease management protocols. The session also offered participants an opportunity to share experiences with housing other bird species and conducting health checks before release.

Discussion with Dr Sophie Common

Dr Sophie Common is a wildlife vet working within the Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance team at ZSL. She provides veterinary support for a number of projects across different taxa, and as part of her role works to manage health and disease aspects of the curlew headstarting project at Pensthorpe Conservation Trust.

Coming soon…

European Curlew Headstarting Online Workshop

Check out events from Curlew Action

Check out events from the Biological Recording Company

For more information about this event, the speakers and the presentations see the event delegate pack below.

Headstarting Workshop Download

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