Today, thanks to the work of @WCDApril21, is #WorldCurlewDay.

Here's a thread to help explain the importance of the #Medway estuary for this now-threatened species...

1/12
Today, thanks to the work of @WCDApril21, is #WorldCurlewDay.Here's a thread to help explain the importance of the #Medway estuary for this now-threatened species...1/12
Today, thanks to the work of @WCDApril21, is #WorldCurlewDay.Here's a thread to help explain the importance of the #Medway estuary for this now-threatened species...1/12
Today, thanks to the work of @WCDApril21, is #WorldCurlewDay.Here's a thread to help explain the importance of the #Medway estuary for this now-threatened species...1/12
Though only a handful of non-breeding Curlew will be present now, Nationally Important (1,200+) numbers can be seen from mid-summer as birds arrive from the continent to moult safely. Many then remain for the winter.

#WorldCurlewDay 2/12
Though only a handful of non-breeding Curlew will be present now, Nationally Important (1,200+) numbers can be seen from mid-summer as birds arrive from the continent to moult safely. Many then remain for the winter. #WorldCurlewDay 2/12
Though only a handful of non-breeding Curlew will be present now, Nationally Important (1,200+) numbers can be seen from mid-summer as birds arrive from the continent to moult safely. Many then remain for the winter. #WorldCurlewDay 2/12
Though only a handful of non-breeding Curlew will be present now, Nationally Important (1,200+) numbers can be seen from mid-summer as birds arrive from the continent to moult safely. Many then remain for the winter. #WorldCurlewDay 2/12
They find good feeding on the Medway's extensive mudflats...

#WorldCurlewDay 3/12
They find good feeding on the Medway's extensive mudflats... #WorldCurlewDay 3/12
They find good feeding on the Medway's extensive mudflats... #WorldCurlewDay 3/12
They find good feeding on the Medway's extensive mudflats... #WorldCurlewDay 3/12
...and safe roosting out among the islands...

#WorldCurlewDay 4/12
...and safe roosting out among the islands... #WorldCurlewDay 4/12
...and safe roosting out among the islands... #WorldCurlewDay 4/12
...and safe roosting out among the islands... #WorldCurlewDay 4/12
...though sadly rising sea levels mean ever higher spring tides can now often be submerge the islands...

#WorldCurlewDay 5/12
...though sadly rising sea levels mean ever higher spring tides can now often be submerge the islands... #WorldCurlewDay 5/12
...though sadly rising sea levels mean ever higher spring tides can now often be submerge the islands... #WorldCurlewDay 5/12
...though sadly rising sea levels mean ever higher spring tides can now often be submerge the islands... #WorldCurlewDay 5/12
...meaning the Curlew have to rely on undisturbed seawalls and farmland. (Thankfully, @NaturalEngland's recently published proposed Coast Path route has left many undisturbed stretches safe here.)

#WorldCurlewDay 6/12
...meaning the Curlew have to rely on undisturbed seawalls and farmland. (Thankfully, @NaturalEngland's recently published proposed Coast Path route has left many undisturbed stretches safe here.) #WorldCurlewDay 6/12
...meaning the Curlew have to rely on undisturbed seawalls and farmland. (Thankfully, @NaturalEngland's recently published proposed Coast Path route has left many undisturbed stretches safe here.) #WorldCurlewDay 6/12
...meaning the Curlew have to rely on undisturbed seawalls and farmland. (Thankfully, @NaturalEngland's recently published proposed Coast Path route has left many undisturbed stretches safe here.) #WorldCurlewDay 6/12
Medway's numbers can be boosted by both Greater Thames and Sheppey Curlew taking advantage of the safer roosting here. Sometimes more than a 1,000 birds can be counted flighting in over the course of a rising tide.

#WorldCurlewDay 7/12
Medway's numbers can be boosted by both Greater Thames and Sheppey Curlew taking advantage of the safer roosting here. Sometimes more than a 1,000 birds can be counted flighting in over the course of a rising tide. #WorldCurlewDay 7/12
Medway's numbers can be boosted by both Greater Thames and Sheppey Curlew taking advantage of the safer roosting here. Sometimes more than a 1,000 birds can be counted flighting in over the course of a rising tide. #WorldCurlewDay 7/12
Medway's numbers can be boosted by both Greater Thames and Sheppey Curlew taking advantage of the safer roosting here. Sometimes more than a 1,000 birds can be counted flighting in over the course of a rising tide. #WorldCurlewDay 7/12
As winter wears on, some Medway Curlew (mainly the shorter-billed males) switch to inland feeding. Continued local development pressures are reducing the availabilty of much needed undisturbed feeding habitat.

#WorldCurlewDay 8/12
As winter wears on, some Medway Curlew (mainly the shorter-billed males) switch to inland feeding. Continued local development pressures are reducing the availabilty of much needed undisturbed feeding habitat. #WorldCurlewDay 8/12
As winter wears on, some Medway Curlew (mainly the shorter-billed males) switch to inland feeding. Continued local development pressures are reducing the availabilty of much needed undisturbed feeding habitat. #WorldCurlewDay 8/12
As winter wears on, some Medway Curlew (mainly the shorter-billed males) switch to inland feeding. Continued local development pressures are reducing the availabilty of much needed undisturbed feeding habitat. #WorldCurlewDay 8/12
Other disturbance threats to wintering Curlew are similar to those seen on many other estuaries. Sadly, the Medway SPA is short of safe reserves, but many landowners and user groups (such as @MedwaySwaleEP) now work to try to reduce pressures on the birds.

#WorldCurlewDay 9/12
Other disturbance threats to wintering Curlew are similar to those seen on many other estuaries. Sadly, the Medway SPA is short of safe reserves, but many landowners and user groups (such as @MedwaySwaleEP) now work to try to reduce pressures on the birds. #WorldCurlewDay 9/12
Other disturbance threats to wintering Curlew are similar to those seen on many other estuaries. Sadly, the Medway SPA is short of safe reserves, but many landowners and user groups (such as @MedwaySwaleEP) now work to try to reduce pressures on the birds. #WorldCurlewDay 9/12
Other disturbance threats to wintering Curlew are similar to those seen on many other estuaries. Sadly, the Medway SPA is short of safe reserves, but many landowners and user groups (such as @MedwaySwaleEP) now work to try to reduce pressures on the birds. #WorldCurlewDay 9/12
In recent decades incomplete, uncoordinated counts for national surveys such as WeBS have meant Curlew have been under-recorded, underplaying true value of the Medway for this species- great to report efforts are now being made to resolve these problems.

#WorldCurlewDay 10/12
In recent decades incomplete, uncoordinated counts for national surveys such as WeBS have meant Curlew have been under-recorded, underplaying true value of the Medway for this species- great to report efforts are now being made to resolve these problems. #WorldCurlewDay 10/12
In recent decades incomplete, uncoordinated counts for national surveys such as WeBS have meant Curlew have been under-recorded, underplaying true value of the Medway for this species- great to report efforts are now being made to resolve these problems. #WorldCurlewDay 10/12
In recent decades incomplete, uncoordinated counts for national surveys such as WeBS have meant Curlew have been under-recorded, underplaying true value of the Medway for this species- great to report efforts are now being made to resolve these problems. #WorldCurlewDay 10/12
Other initiatives to engage estuary users/general public, such as @Birdwisenk, are increasing local awareness of the Medway's for both Curlew and the many other wader/wildfowl species that use this estuary in nationally/internationally important numbers.

#WorldCurlewDay 11/12
"Curlews frequent our salt-marshes and mud-flats in considerable numbers..." (Walter Prentis, Notes on the Birds of Rainham, 1894)

Let's hope that statement rings true for the Medway in another 125 years...

#WorldCurlewDay
@WCDApril21
12/12
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