

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: European Curlew Fieldworker Workshop 2026
- **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 06 Feb, 2026 at 02:00 pm – Sun, 08 Feb, 2026 at 04:00 pm
- **Event Description**: A workshop for Eurasian Curlew fieldworkers from across Europe to share information and best practice in practical Curlew conservationAbout this EventOur in-person European Curlew Fieldworker Workshop will return in February 2026! You can read the report from our successful first Workshop .100% of attendees surveyed in 2024 reported that they would be interested in attending the workshop a second time.Join us for this weekend of talks, discussions and entertainment where we will be focusing on Curlew fieldwork. Open to all, but specifically designed for fieldworkers, your ticket includes access to the event, meals, two nights' accomodation, evening entertainment and a trip to Morecambe Bay on Sunday morning to visit the world-famous Morecambe Bay Estuary.The weekend sessions will include:Failed eggs - latest research.Monitoring chicks and counting fledglings.Predator control - lethal, non-lethal or both? Which predators?Do Action Plans Work? A panel discussion.A 'Have Your Say' session - your chance to take the mic.Drones and apps - what's available and how best to use themWomen in fieldwork - the benefits and problems of being a female fieldworker.Ecological grief - coping with the emotions of working with a declining species.Please note this is a developing schedule and may change. Updates will be made to the event page and e-mailed to attendees nearer the time. There will be plenty of opportunity for networking, informal conversation and sharing ideas.Tickets are limited and sold out in 2024- book early to avoid disappointment.Please consider donating if you can. Thank you!AgendaHave a look at our rough agenda below, to be finalised nearer the time.Getting ThereInformation on how best to make your way to the venue will be communicated closer to the event, however, the city of Lancaster can be reached directly by train from Manchester Airport, as well as being well served by train from other cities. The train station is about 30 minutes from the venue by bus (15 min drive/1h15min walk).PaymentIf you would like to pay Curlew Action directly for the event, by way of receiving an invoice, please contact Charlie at charlie@curlewaction.org.We understand the amount may be a barrier to some people attending, so please use the 'Donate' button to pay a lesser amount if you require, or e-mail Charlie to discuss. We are fundraising to offer as much delegate support as we can.Have Something to Say?Have you got something you'd like to say? Over the weekend we can give you a (short) slot if you have a topic for discussion. Let us know by e-mailing Charlie beforehand or let us know when there: charlie@curlewaction.orgHave a Question?Send any questions you may have about the event to charlie@curlewaction.org.Friday?: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PMArrivals, tea and cakeHost: Reception roomInfo: Drop off your bags in your room and come to the event space for tea and cake before we begin.?: 03:00 PM - 03:10 PMWelcome from Curlew ActionHost: David HillInfo: David Hill, Chair of Curlew Action, welcomes everyone to the second Curlew Action in-person European Fieldworker Workshop. We hope this meeting will build on the success of the first meeting in Norfolk in 2024, and the second online workshop on headstarting in February 2025. ?: 03:10 PM - 03:40 PMTalk - Mary's Curlew Walk: 10 Years On, What Has Changed?Host: Mary ColwellInfo: 2026 marks the 10th year anniversary of Mary Colwell's 500-mile Curlew Walk when she walked from the West of Ireland to the East of England to find out why Curlews were disappearing. The result of the walk was her book "Curlew Moon" and the charity Curlew Action, as well as other events and activities.  Over the last 10 years the plight of Curlews has become much better understood in the scientific, public, political and conservation sectors, but are we winning the battle to save them? How has Curlew conservation changed and where is it heading? ?: 03:40 PM - 04:30 PMTalk - What Have We Learned, What Do We Still Need To Know?Host: Professor Jenny GillInfo: We have learned a lot about the needs of Curlews over the last few years. In this overview, Prof Jenny Gill summarises the research, new ideas and identifies the burning issues that still need to be solved in Curlew conservation. She also addresses the question - where are we best concentrating our efforts?  Is it really possible to save every population? A fascinating and thought-provoking talk from a leading wader scientist.?: 04:30 PM - 05:00 PMCurlew Song CompetitionHost: Peter CowdreyInfo: Peter Cowdrey is a composer and musician who is inspired by birdsong. He has been experimenting with the bubbling call of the Curlew and has worked out a way for people to copy it.  If you slow down a Curlew's bubbling call to the frequency of the human voice, it is possible for us to imitate it. When that imitation is recorded and  then speeded up to the correct frequency, you can sound just like a Curlew, or pretty close to it. Many people have tried, but Mary Colwell remains the Curlew Calling Champion. So - here is the Workshop Challenge - beat the Curlew Queen! This is your turn to knock her off her perch. Over the weekend you can have a go at this fun activity and the winner will be announced on Sunday - and will get a coveted prize. In this introductory talk Peter will explain how Curlews make their famous call, what you need to do to have a go, and how he judges the quality of the imitation. A fun way to learn about the intricacies of birdsong.?: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PMDrinks at the bar - have a go at singing like a Curlew with Peter CowdreyHost: BarInfo: The bar will open for relaxing and meeting up again.?: 06:00 PMDinnerSaturday?: 09:00 AM - 09:40 AMSession 1: Egg Update - Latest Findings on Failed EggsHost: Nicola HemmingsInfo: This was a very popular talk at the last in-person workshop in Norfolk. Failed Curlew eggs are common, in some places most nests have an egg that has not hatched. Nicola Hemmings has been studying eggs sent in to her and says: "we have accumulated a good set of data from the previous three years (2022, 2023, 2024), so we have now switched focus to analysing that data and writing up our findings. This means we should be in an excellent position to report key results from the three year study of UK curlew hatching failure by February, and may even have a paper out (or almost out) by then to point people to. ?: 09:40 AM - 01:00 PMSession 2: Monitoring Chicks and Counting FledglingsInfo: How do we count fledged chicks? This is the big question everyone wants to know. From monitoring chicks post hatching to counting how many fly away - this is the crucial data we need to understand what is happening to Curlew populations. But it is also the most difficult data to collect. Coffee break will be in the middle of this vital session.?: 01:00 PM - 02:30 PMLunch - have a go at calling like a Curlew with Peter Cowdrey?: 02:30 PM - 03:30 PMSession 3: Do Action Plans Work?Info: The UK has just published its first single species Action Plan for Curlew. Other countries are considering it. Europe as a Curlew Action Plan (AEWA International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Eurasian Curlew, 2015).  A lot of time and effort goes into devising them, and they are meant to be a go-to document for securing the future of the birds and for holding governments to account - but do they work? A panel discussion and time to answer questions. The panel includes Prof Des Thompson, the lead author of the UK Curlew Action Plan.?: 03:30 PM - 05:30 PMPredator ControlInfo: Tim Robinson, a predator control operator from South Staffs will talk us through a day, what does controlling predators for waders actually mean? This is followed by an in-depth session of the latest thinking on predator control, led by GWCT. Details to come.?: 05:30 PM - 06:30 PMDrinks - and have a go at calling like a Curlew with Peter Cowdrey?: 06:30 PM - 08:00 PMDinner?: 08:00 PM - 09:30 PMEvening EntertainmentHost: Lee SchofieldInfo: Lee Schofield  with Mary Colwell for conversation and live music about nature, life and creativity. Lee is a conservationists, rewilding expert, musician and author.  He wrote the acclaimed Wild Fell: Fighting for Nature on a Lake District Hill Farm, published by Penguin/Transworld. Wild Fell is his account of a decade working for the RSPB at Haweswater in the Lake District National Park, where he oversaw pioneering conservation work across an upland mosaic of woodland, bog, mountain and meadow covering 30km2. Wild Fell details the personal and professional challenges involved in working at the coal-face of nature conservation in the uplands. But Lee is also an accomplished musician whose album "and the countryside" showcases his haunting guitar and lyrics. Here the album on Spotify, Apple Music or others: https://leeschofield.co.uk/music/SundayCurlew Field Trip - Time TBCInfo: A trip to a Morecambe Bay, an internationally important wintering area for waders. Details and timings tbc?: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AMSession 4: Have your sayInfo: This is your slot to have the mic and tell us  about your burning issue or to comment on what has been discussed. We would love to hear from you.?: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AMSession 5: Climate Change and Curlews across EuropeInfo: Europe is increasingly suffering from extreme weather events, the breeding seasons have either been very hot and dry or cold and wet. How is it affecting Curlews? We will hear from projects and discuss how to mitigate agains the worst of the weather.?: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AMCoffee Break and last chance to sing like a Curlew!?: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PMSession 6: Drones - are they useful?Info: Drones are now commonly used to find nests. How easy are they to use? What licences are needed? Do they disturb the birds? Do they work in all habitats? Alex Large from Yorkshire and others will give their experiences of using drones in the field and there is an opportunity to hear from a technical expert on the different types of drones available.?: 12:30 PM - 01:15 PMApps - should we making better use of them?Info: How can we bet use new technology, particularly different apps, to collect data? ?: 01:15 PM - 02:15 PMLunch - Result of the birdsong competition?: 02:15 PM - 03:00 PMOptional Workshop 1: Women in FieldworkHost: Professor Jenny GillInfo: Women can face particular challenges but also bring specific benefits to a project. From our travels we know women have things to say about being female working with landowners/farmers and working long hours in the field. Professor Jenny Gill has a lifetime of fieldwork and will lead this session on the problems and benefits of being a female fieldworker.?: 02:15 PM - 03:00 PMOptional Workshop 2: Dealing with ecological griefInfo: A session where you can share your own experiences of the difficulties you face and how to cope with the range of emotions that come with Curlew fieldwork.?: 03:00 PM - 03:15 PMClosing talk: Staying HopefulHost: Matt TrevelyanInfo: Matthew Trevelyan and Cathy the Curlew give a heartening closing talk on keeping going, loving what we do and never giving up.?: 03:15 PM - 03:30 PMWorkshop ends - summary and thank you from David Hill
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/bailrigg/european-curlew-fieldworker-workshop-2026/100001509481021369
- **Event Categories**: workshops, music, entertainment, contests, meetups, nonprofit, business, art, literary-art, trips-adventures, charities, live-music, virtual
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 0

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: https://consumer.pxf.io/c/1339408/3151484/39691?partnerpropertyid=1191892&MediaPartnerPropertyId=1191892&svlink=14105511&level=1&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.com%2Fe%2Feuropean-curlew-fieldworker-workshop-2026-tickets-1509481021369
- **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 379.9, currency: GBP

## Event venue details

- **city**: Bailrigg
- **state**: EN
- **country**: United Kingdom
- **location**: Lancaster University Lancaster Conferences
- **lat**: 54.01243239999999
- **long**: -2.7865042
- **full address**: Lancaster University Lancaster Conferences, County Avenue, Bailrigg, United Kingdom

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 10
- **organizer**: Curlew Action (https://allevents.in/org/curlew-action/19117702)

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## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Fri, 06 Feb, 2026 at 02:00 pm
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** Lancaster University Lancaster Conferences, County Avenue, Bailrigg, United Kingdom
- **Q**: What is the ticket price?
  - **A:** starting from 0 up to 379.9 GBP
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Curlew Action
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** workshops, music, entertainment, contests, meetups, nonprofit, business, art, literary-art, trips-adventures, charities, live-music, virtual
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about European Curlew Fieldworker Workshop 2026 ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

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