More than 30 curlew chicks will be released into the wild this summer as part of a conservation project to save the endangered bird from extinction in Ireland.
The curlew is one of ten breeding wader species in Ireland.
The new Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership aims to bolster the numbers of the species in Ireland, which also include lapwing, redshank, snipe and oystercatcher amongst others.
The project is part-funded by the EU and the Department of Agriculture and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which will see it get €25 million over the next five years.
Project Manager with Breeding Waders EIP Owen Murphy said releasing the fledgling curlews over the coming weeks will give the bird a "head start".
The curlew population in Ireland has declined by 98% over the past 30 years. There are now approximately 105 to 110 breeding pairs left in the country.
"Because there are still pockets of breeding curlews, we decided this way would buy us some time," Mr Murphy said.
His team identified where curlews were nesting and took their eggs early in the season.
"We knew if we did it early enough the curlews would have a second clutch," he explained.
This allowed one batch of curlew eggs to be cared for and monitored by humans while the chicks were at their most vulnerable stage as another set were reared in the wild.
"It kind of doubles your return," Mr Murphy said.
Mr Murphy's team took 36 eggs earlier this year and over the coming weeks, 31 fledgling curlews will be released back into the wild.
This is the first time a project like this has been attempted in Ireland. Some of the fledgling curlews will wear a leg tag so their progress can be tracked.
"We are hugely excited with the prospect of being able to monitor these birds on a daily basis," Mr Murphy said.
He added he was hopeful the project would develop their understanding of the curlew's decline in Ireland and help them to increase breeding productivity.
Subsequent steps in the project will involve engaging with landowners and local communities and improving the marginal, wet land that the curlews and other waders like.
On Monday, the first six curlew chicks were released in Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim.
Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan said "We have an enormous challenge ahead of us if we are to stave off the extinction of this beautiful bird.
"This Breeding Waders EIP presents a huge opportunity for us to ramp up our efforts, try new approaches, and expand our own knowledge of what can help them to breed and survive," he added.
