Bird lovers can now keep their eyes on an endangered species which has been raised in Norfolk thanks to the power of the internet.

People interested in the lives of curlews will be able to track the movements of the birds and find important updates on their release back into nature thanks to a new website.

Today sees the launch of www.curlewrecoveryproject.co.uk by the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust in association with Natural England, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Wild Ken Hill and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to mark World Curlew Day. 

It will track the birds, whose eggs are rescued from local MOD airfields and taken to the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust.

The trust then hatch and rear chicks at its dedicated facilities at the reserve in Fakenham. 

Fakenham & Wells Times: Chrissie Kelley monitoring eggs from Curlew Recovery Project Chrissie Kelley monitoring eggs from Curlew Recovery Project (Image: Martin Hayward-Smith)

The project sees mature chicks released at Wild Ken Hill and Sandringham Estate in July and August, with a selection tagged with satellite trackers to monitor their movements.

Chrissie Kelley, head of species management at Pensthorpe, said: “It’s amazing how quickly curlew season comes around, and we can’t wait to help this year’s clutch of chicks as we continue to protect this beautiful and endangered species."

Data from last year’s clutch of released curlews, which is now on the website, reveals many birds remain in Norfolk, particularly in The Wash, with some travelling as far as Exmouth in Devon, Brittany in France, Guernsey and Ireland.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Curlew Chicks from Curlew Recovery ProjectCurlew Chicks from Curlew Recovery Project (Image: Martin Hayward Smith)

The information from the trackers is analysed by the project’s partner the BTO, where experts assess the movement of the birds, how far they travel, where they settle, and establish what their food and habitat preferences are. 

Dr Sam Franks, at the BTO, said: “The data we receive from the trackers is extremely important, giving us a huge insight into their natural behaviours so we can decide how best to support them."

To read more about the Curlew Recovery Project and track the birds’ movements, visit www.curlewrecoveryproject.co.uk. 

Fakenham & Wells Times: Curlew Chicks from the Curlew Recovery Project Curlew Chicks from the Curlew Recovery Project (Image: Martin Hayward-Smith)