THE EASTERN CURLEW

Every year, all over the world, many birds migrate from their feeding grounds to other places for breeding. Some of these birds move only small distances from coastal areas to inland swamps, for example. Others travel vast distances between continents across the globe.

The migratory wading birds sustain a life of endless summer. They breed in the northern hemisphere in the middle of the year and return south for the rest of the time, often to the same wetland they have visited year after year.

The Eastern Curlew breeds in Siberia and flies along the East Asian Australasian Flyway to inter-tidal wetlands and occasionally as far south as Aotearoa, New Zealand. There are at least another 35 species of birds which regularly migrate along this same flyway, many travelling from beyond the Arctic circle. The Eastern Curlew is the largest of the migratory wading birds.

To make this journey of approximately 10 000 kilometres, the Eastern Curlew depends on a chain of wetlands on which to rest and feed and regain strength before attempting each further leg. Because of their various feeding methods and the different foods they take, many different species of migratory wading birds can share the same mudflat without significantly competing with each other for food.

Like all waders, the Eastern Curlew will increase its' body weight by between 40 per cent and 70 per cent before migrating and will lose all of this added weight within two or three days of continuous flying.It may travel up to 5000 kilometeres in one flight, reaching a speed of 70 kilometres per hour.

The Eastern Curlew chicks attempt their first migration when they are only six or eight weeks old. Also, they attempt this enormous journey after the adult birds have already departed. These chicks inherit from their parents an innate sense of the direction and distance for their migration.

How the birds navigate on their long migration remains a mystery. One theory suggests that the birds maintain their flight path by alignment with the sun, the moon and the stars. Another theory suggests that they have a particular sensory ability which attunes them to the earths magnetic field and they set their course accordingly.

Recent comprehensive surveys throughout Australia and along the Flyway have established that the world population of the Eastern Curlew is about 20 000. Some Eastern Curlew have been known to live for more than 20 years, however because of the hazards of migration and the difficulties of finding food the average life expectancy for the young birds is only three or four years.

For more information contact:
Birds Australia
415 Riversdale Rd
Hawthorn East
Victoria 3123
Australia
Phone +61 3 9882 2622
Facsimile +61 3 9882 2677



meme mcdonald
Home	The Eastern Curlew Every year, all over the world, many birds migrate from their feeding grounds to other places for breeding. Some of these birds move only small distances from coastal areas to inland swamps, for example. Others travel vast distances between continents across the globe. The migratory wading birds sustain a life of endless summer. They breed in the northern hemisphere in the middle of the year and return south for the rest of the time, often to the same wetland they have visited year after year. photo : Dr Clive Minton The Eastern Curlew breeds in Siberia and flies along the East Asian Australasian Flyway to inter-tidal wetlands and occasionally as far south as Aotearoa, New Zealand. There are at least another 35 species of birds which regularly migrate along this same flyway, many travelling from beyond the Arctic circle. The Eastern Curlew is the largest of the migratory wading birds. To make this journey of approximately 10 000 kilometres, the Eastern Curlew depends on a chain of wetlands on which to rest and feed and regain strength before attempting each further leg. Because of their various feeding methods and the different foods they take, many different species of migratory wading birds can share the same mudflat without significantly competing with each other for food. Like all waders, the Eastern Curlew will increase its' body weight by between 40 per cent and 70 per cent before migrating and will lose all of this added weight within two or three days of continuous flying.It may travel up to 5000 kilometeres in one flight, reaching a speed of 70 kilometres per hour. photo : Dr Clive Minton The Eastern Curlew chicks attempt their first migration when they are only six or eight weeks old. Also, they attempt this enormous journey after the adult birds have already departed. These chicks inherit from their parents an innate sense of the direction and distance for their migration. How the birds navigate on their long migration remains a mystery. One theory suggests that the birds maintain their flight path by alignment with the sun, the moon and the stars. Another theory suggests that they have a particular sensory ability which attunes them to the earths magnetic field and they set their course accordingly. Recent comprehensive surveys throughout Australia and along the Flyway have established that the world population of the Eastern Curlew is about 20 000. Some Eastern Curlew have been known to live for more than 20 years, however because of the hazards of migration and the difficulties of finding food the average life expectancy for the young birds is only three or four years. For more information contact: Birds Australia 415 Riversdale Rd Hawthorn East Victoria 3123 Australia Phone +61 3 9882 2622 Facsimile +61 3 9882 2677 READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE WAY OF THE BIRDS DOWNLOAD AND VIEW AN ANIMATED CLIP FROM THE WAY OF THE BIRDS Curlew photos copyright Dr Clive Minton 2002 copyright meme mcdonald 2002

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