Cumbria curlew chicks found by drone before farm grass cutting

A bird protection charity has been using a thermal drone to find and protect chicks before farmers cut grass in their fields.

Cumbria-based Curlew Recovery South Lakes said it had so far found six curlew nests using the drone, and a total of 32 nests overall.

The birds are a red-listed endangered species in the UK and declining due to poor breeding success, the charity said.

Farmer and charity volunteer George Taylor, from Crook, said: “If farmers think there may be a curlew nest or chicks in a field due to be cut, please contact us as soon as possible.”