Today, April 21, is #WorldCurlewDay. Curlews are among the largest of the world’s migratory shorebirds, & among the most imperilled. 2 of the 8 curlew species are likely already extinct; 1 is near threatened; 1 is vulnerable; & 1 is endangered. Populations of all are decreasing.

In Australia we’re lucky to host potentially half of the world’s curlew species: Eurasian curlews are occasional vagrants here, while whimbrels, little, and eastern curlews are all annual visitors.

In particular nearly the entire world’s population of the endangered eastern curlew spends its non-breeding season in Australia. Australia is in one of the world’s great bird migration routes, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, & the eastern curlew is endemic to the Flyway.

If you’re lucky enough to see an eastern curlew, know that it’s likely flown halfway across the world, from hemisphere to hemisphere - or is on its way to doing so. It might do that twice every year for 20 years or more.

Know also that the bird is endangered because much of the intertidal mudflats on which it feeds have been turned into factories, or ports, or marinas, or seaside apartments - the machinery of modern global capitalism and leisure.

The current pandemic shows in a stark & frightening way the manner in which the entire world is interconnected: through trade, through travel. But long before now, our world was shaped in a small way by migratory birds, carrying seeds from continent to continent, carrying dreams.

Eastern curlews are on their way north now, up to Siberia to breed. When they return to Australia in September perhaps they’ll find a country emerging from lockdown. And then, if you see one, think of the people in Russia, China, PNG, South & North Korea, who’ve seen it too.

We are many communities, but one world. We’re so extraordinarily lucky to get to live on this astonishing planet. We share so much that we don’t even think about & the eastern curlew, the largest migratory shorebird in the world, is just big enough I think to carry that thought.

So wherever you are today, #WorldCurlewDay, take just a moment to look up at the sky & think of the eastern curlew, or the whimbrel, or Eurasian, little, bristle-thighed, or long-billed curlew, flying through that huge sky somewhere. And let them take your imagination with them.