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22
Apr
Man walks 53 miles across Nidderdale dressed as curlew
A man walked 53 miles across Nidderdale dressed as a curlew over Easter to raise awareness of the endangered bird.
Matt Trevelyan, farming in protected landscapes officer at Nidderdale National Landscape, completed the walk on Saturday and Sunday (April 19-20).
He walked 25 miles on the Saturday and 28 miles on the Sunday.
The first day saw him set off on a loop from Pateley Bridge that included Scar House Dam, Middlesmoor and Bewerley.
On the second day he walked from Pateley Bridge to Ripley via Guisecliff Woods before heading back via Brimham Rocks.
He completed the challenge on the weekend leading up to yesterday's World Curlew Day.
Established by Mary Colwell in 2017, the day raises awareness of the growing dangers curlews face.
The Eurasian Curlew is one of Nidderdale’s most fascinating species but faces significant threats from climate change and habitat loss.
The Stray Ferret recently reported that an urgent appeal had been issued by Nidderdale National Landscape to help protect the bird.
This follows a rapid decline in breeding numbers of the species - the number of nesting pairs has plummeted from 150,000 in the 1960s to just 150 today, and the bird is expected to be extinct in Wales by 2033.
Photo: Alex Ward
Mr Trevelyan said:
We may be seeing a population of older, non-breeding birds that are not being replaced. When they die, the decline could be sudden and irreversible.
Every nest, egg and chick matters.
The costume was made of bamboo and polystyrene and posed remarkable similarities of the endangered bird.
You can donate to the Nidderdale National Landscape appeal to save the Eurasian Curlew here.
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