Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris)

The information provided here is extracted from the national reports provided by the Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (also known as Bern Convention) to the Group of Experts on Conservation of Birds. Some additional information (marked in red) comes from other sources such as the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans.
Population status
AlbaniaVangeluwe et al. (1994) found few individuals using Patoku lagoon as stop-over point. During February 1993, another individual was recorded in Butrint (Hagemeijer et al. 1994). No other sightings have been reported since
Population sizePopulation/rangeSeason status
Very rareunknownNon-breeding visitor
Bulgaria
Population sizePopulation/rangeSeason status
Very RareunknownNon-breeding visitor
CroatiaVery rare
Population sizePopulation/rangeSeason status
Very RareunknownNon-breeding visitor
HungaryIn recent years a rare vagrant only, protection measures in Hungary are of special relevance since it is one of the few countries with recent observations.
Population sizePopulation/rangeSeason status
Very RaredeclineNon-breeding visitor
RomaniaRarely migrates through the country, all records in the Danube Delra
Population sizePopulation/rangeSeason status
Very RareNon-breeding visitor
SpainOnly 6 records, 1962-1980, plus up to 35 unconfirmed observations, all but three from Dońana from 1990 to 1992
Population sizePopulation/rangeSeason status
Very RareunknownNon-breeding visitor
TurkeyIt is a very rare species for Turkey. In the period 1946- 1996, only 29 verified observation were made
Population sizePopulation/rangeSeason status
Very RareNon-breeding visitor
Legal protection, establishment of protected areas and planning conservation activities
Albania

Legal protection: Protected by the Law No. 7875 (23/11/1994) and by the respective Hunting Regulation No. 2 (23/07/1995) prepared and approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Establishment of protected areas: All suitable sites are protected by law

National/Regional action plan: Action plan is planned according to the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (1999),

Bulgaria

Legal protection: Protected

Establishment of protected areas: The most of the wetlands were the species has been recorded are protected (Atanasovsko lake, Chengene Skele, Pomorie lake).

National/Regional action plan: Adopted by the Ministry of Environment and Water

Croatia

Legal protection: Protected

Establishment of protected areas:

National/Regional action plan: Listed as high priority in the NBSAP (2000)

Hungary

Legal protection: Strictly protected

Establishment of protected areas: 50-100% all recent records have been on protected areas

National/Regional action plan: No national action plan has been prepared for the species but all recent records have been on protected areas. A Memorandum of Understanding for the Slender-billed Curlew under the Bonn Convention has been signed by Hungary. The species is strictly protected with all other similar shorebirds also protected (prevention of accidental shooting) . Hungarian Rarities Committee assesses and stores all records of the species

Romania

Legal protection: Legal protection against killing for all Globally Threatened Species was adopted in parliament (103/1996 law) and penalties for illegal killing were increased (H.G.654/2001) but still the value of penalties was remained low.

Establishment of protected areas: all records occurred in protected areas.

National/Regional action plan:

Spain

Legal protection: It is not included in the National Catalogue of Threatened Species

Establishment of protected areas:

National/Regional action plan: no

Turkey

Legal protection: In 1982, hunting of this species and in 1992, hunting of the other Curlew species in Turkey was banned

Establishment of protected areas:

National/Regional action plan:

Implementation of the recommendations of the Bern convention
Conflicts and threats
AlbaniaThe species might be subject of poaching or even hunting activity. The European Curlew Numenius arquata is not protected in Albania and hunters could easily mis-identify the species.
Bulgaria
Croatia
HungaryNature protection of one of recent locations (Virágoskút fishponds) was only partially possible due to conflicting interests with water management
Romania
SpainNature protection of one of recent locations (Virágoskút fishponds) was only partially possible due to conflicting interests with water management.
Turkey
Other conservation and research activities
AlbaniaThe absence of new records is related with the natural rarity of the species as well as with the low observation pressure especially during migration period. Some expertise in identification is also needed.
BulgariaAll of the sites were the species had been registered more than once have been protected. . The wardening of the Atanasovsko Lake, Durankulak Lake, Shabla Lake and Poda lagoon have been improved. BSPB experts have produced a National Action Plan for the species in 2001.Regular monitoring of the Burgas lakes and wetlands is carried out by the BSBCP and BSPB
Croatia
Hungary
Romania
SpainAll other curlews (Numenius spp) and godwits (Limosa spp) are protected (4/89 law and Royal Decree 439/90) so there shouldn't be confusion with similar hunting species. Spain has signed the Memorandum of Understanding promoted by the Convention of Migratory Species.
TurkeyBurdur lake and Çamalti salt mashes where are the potential habitats for the species as well as the projects to determine the biological and ecological characteristics of Tuz Lake, Seyfe Lake and Göksu Delta are being carried on.
Source: The Standing Committee of the Bern Convention has created the Group of Experts on Conservation of Birds. The information provided here is from Government reports presented at a meeting of this group, held in Wageningen (NL) on 11-12 June 2002.