In Memoriam: The Slender-Billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris

Gone but not forgotten: c. 1995

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of the Slender-billed Curlew, a bird whose elegant, curved bill once graced the wetlands of Central Asia, Europe, and North Africa. Declared extinct by scientists after decades without a confirmed sighting, the curlew’s absence marks the end of a story that spanned millennia. The Slender-billed Curlew was a marvel of migration, flying thousands of kilometers each year. Breeding in the remote bogs of Central Asia, it wintered in the Mediterranean basin and along the coasts of North Africa. Its delicate, pale plumage and signature slender bill made it a distinctive sight—a cherished memory for the few lucky enough to have seen it. The last confirmed sighting, at Morocco’s Merja Zerga wetlands in 1995, was a fleeting glimpse of a vanishing world. As we bid farewell to the Slender-billed Curlew, let us honor its memory by redoubling our efforts to protect other species at risk. May its story inspire us to act swiftly and decisively to safeguard the marvels of our natural world. The skies are quieter without you, Slender-billed Curlew, but your memory soars on. REST IN PEACE!

Understanding the Extinction of the Slender-Billed Curlew

The Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris), a migratory shorebird, is now considered extinct. Despite extensive searches and no confirmed sightings since 1995, studies concluded there is a 96% probability that the species is no longer extant. This tragic loss highlights the consequences of habitat loss, hunting, and delayed conservation efforts. 

What Went Wrong?

The story of the Slender-billed Curlew is a cautionary tale about humanity’s impact on nature. Here’s what the studies have to say:

1. Habitat Destruction: The curlew’s breeding grounds, believed to be in boggy forests and steppes of Russia and Kazakhstan, were devastated by agricultural expansion. Wetlands were drained, forests cleared, and crucial nesting habitats disappeared.

2. Hunting Pressures: Hunting, both for food and museum specimens, decimated the population. As the bird became rarer, its value as a collector’s item increased, further accelerating its decline.

3. Delayed Conservation Efforts: Early warnings about the species’ decline were ignored. Conservation action began only in the late 1980s, by which time the population was likely too small to recover.

4. Small Population Challenges: The Allee effect—a phenomenon where small populations struggle to find mates—likely sealed the curlew’s fate. With fewer birds spread over vast areas, breeding success dwindled.