Getty ImagesThe curlew was once common across Northern IrelandFootage of an endangered bird with a nest and eggs has been described as "remarkable".
A video of the curlew was posted on social media by the Sliabh Beagh Curlew Conservation Trust on Saturday.
The Trust said: "For a species that has declined by over 98% in Ireland since the 1980s, this is a genuinely significant and hopeful conservation milestone."
The curlew was once a common sight, but numbers have fallen in recent years and there are now thought to be just 150 breeding pairs of curlews left in Northern Ireland.
Donal Beagan, Nest Protection and Headstarting Manager at Breeding Waders EIP project, said finding this bird with the nest and eggs is "really exciting".
Breeding on home ground
Donal BeaganThe curlew is part of a conservation programme on Sliabh Beagh which aims to increase numbers of the rare bird Last month a pair of curlews were located in the Sliabh Beagh area, which straddles the border between Counties Tyrone and Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, and County Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland.
After closer examination it was discovered one of the curlews had coloured rings on its legs meaning that it was a "headstarted bird from 2024".
Beagan explained the headstart initiative "as an emergency measure to boost populations" of birds.
It sees vulnerable curlew nests taken from the wild and artificially incubated. When the eggs hatch, the birds are then reared to point of fledge.
"Once they are past that really risky stage of their life and they are able to fly they are released into the environment," Beagan explained.
Beagan said this nesting bird was particularly exciting as it is the "first record we have had of headstarting curlew being back on breeding grounds and potentially breeding".
He said it had "a lot of significance" as it could show that efforts to boost the population may be working.
'Really, really exciting'
The nest, which contains three eggs, was located using GPS thermal technology.
Beagan thinks it is "probably a second attempt at a nest" as it has been found quite late in the breeding season.
"Three eggs is not a big surprise for young bird to have," he said.
Beagan said it was "really really exciting to find that one" and that he and his team will be eagerly watching the progression of this bird throughout the breeding season.
"It's really hopeful that bird will be able to hatch out young from that nest and ultimately rear those to a point of fledge."
But he warned there is a long way to go as the eggs are "only around two weeks into incubation" and a curlew's incubation period is around 28 days.
Any baby curlews which may eventually hatch from the eggs will not be able to fly for around 40-45 days.
What to do if you spot a curlew
NIFRSDuring a wildfire in County Fermanagh earlier this year a curlew nest was found in the fire's path Earlier this year curlew eggs were saved by firefighters during a "significant wildfire" in County Fermanagh as their nest was directly in the fire's path and close to being lost in the blaze.
Beagan said this is a "really interesting, really exciting time" and they are hoping to see the population increasing going forward.
He advised the public that "if you see a curlew with colour rings on, please pay close attention and report them to the authorities".
In the Facebook post, Sliabh Beagh Curlew Conservation Trust said that the "milestone" would not have been possible without the Breeding Waders EIP Project.
It also recognised the work of the RSPB Northern Ireland, local landowners, volunteers, and "the many people working tirelessly to safeguard curlew across Ireland".
It also asked that the public continue to report any curlew sightings to them.
