Survival of Eurasian Curlew Chicks Varies With Vegetation Structure in a Diverse Lowland Landscape

ABSTRACT Loss and degradation of open habitats and associated changes in vegetation structure are major threats to the biodiversity they support. Consequently, incorporation of vegetation management into targeted conservation plans is of great importance, and this can be guided by an understanding of how vegetation structure influences the demography of threatened species. Ground‐nesting waders are declining across Europe because of unsustainably low breeding productivity, and targeted conservation actions are needed to prevent further losses. Such actions could include vegetation management if vegetation structures that enhance demographic rates can be identified. Here, we use intensive field‐based observations, alongside weekly vegetation surveys, to quantify the survival of Eurasian curlew chicks in relation to use of different vegetation structures in Breckland, eastern England. Between 2019 and 2022, a total of 68 curlew broods were monitored, from which > 72% of chicks died before reaching 2 weeks old and 40 chicks fledged. Fledging success did not vary significantly between years, across seasons or between sites, but in their first week of life, chicks were more likely to survive when using areas of shorter vegetation, while chicks in their second week of life were more likely to survive when using taller vegetation. These findings highlight the importance of access to a mix of vegetation heights for curlew chicks, particularly during the first 2 weeks of life, and the need for management actions capable of delivering these heterogeneous conditions at appropriate scales.