BASC has attended a conference in Wales aimed at discussing the battle to save one of Wales’ most endangered birds – the curlew.
Curlew numbers in Wales are said to have fallen 81% between 1993 and 2006. It is estimated 500 breeding pairs remain.
There are fears breeding curlews could be lost from Wales within the next few decades without action.
More than 100 delegates attended the conference in Builth Wells, Powys, and heard from bird experts, policy-makers, farmers and land managers.
Derek Williams, BASC Wales officer, attended the conference. He said: “They key message from all was that the Curlew is at a critical stage of decline throughout the UK and Ireland and is on a downward spiral of becoming extinct within the next two decades unless drastic measures are adopted for its recovery.
“The clear message from the conference and workshop was that conservation bodies and organisations need to come together collaboratively for the future of the Curlew.
“One thing that stood out was an acknowledgement of the importance of adequate predator control to help protect the curlew.
“BASC Wales advises conservation bodies on the importance of predator control management and are best placed to do so with our dedicated team of experts on any further conservation projects that may be undertaken in Wales.
“BASC has more than 7,000 members in Wales who would be happy to assist with predator management on conservation projects, many of our members are already involved in this kind of work through a number of Grey Squirrel and Mink trapping projects.”
ENDS