This release marks a key milestone in the Breeding Waders EIP, a five-year, €25 million conservation effort aimed at reversing the species’ long-term decline.

As part of this project, curlew eggs are collected from the wild and incubated at Fota Wildlife Park. Once hatched, the chicks are raised for their most vulnerable first weeks before being moved to a secure island enclosure. After nearly three weeks acclimating and gaining strength on Inchbofin, the nine young birds were released.

Project lead Owen Murphy emphasised the significance of the day: “Curlews nest and hatch on the ground, making them especially vulnerable,” he said. “Getting nine healthy birds back into the wild is a huge success.”

Fota Wildlife Park plays a central role in incubation and early rearing stages. Jessica Hodnett, who has cared for the birds from their egg stage, described the release as “quite emotional,” likening each chick to “a golden egg.” She added that seeing them fly off into the wild was a deeply rewarding moment.

This release is one of several planned under the headstarting programme. Seventeen more birds are scheduled to be released soon at Lough Corrib in County Galway.

Though progress is slow and recovery may take decades, Murphy hopes that future national surveys will show a halt to the population’s decline. As Senator Malcolm Noonan noted, the project is an example of how early investment in conservation can yield meaningful results in restoring biodiversity.