Four curlew chicks have hatched following the rescue of their eggs from a wildfire in Brookeborough, County Fermanagh.

The nest had been fenced off by conservationists, but a wildfire broke out within 24 hours. At its peak, 85 firefighters from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service tackled the blaze. Fire crews held back the flames while RSPB staff retrieved the eggs when the fire had approached to within roughly a metre of the nest.

The eggs were carefully packaged and transported in a biscuit tin to an incubation facility. After just under four weeks of incubation, all four hatched. The chicks are reported to be healthy and thriving.

The chicks will be transferred to bird pens at about three weeks old and released close to their original nesting area once they can fly and fend for themselves.

The curlew population in Northern Ireland has fallen sharply, with only around 150 breeding pairs remaining. Across Ireland, numbers have declined by over 98% since the 1980s.

The Sliabh Beagh Curlew Conservation Trust recently located another nest with eggs in the area, describing it as a hopeful milestone. Multiple agencies participated in the rescue, including the RSPB, the trust, the Forest Service, and Conservation Detection Dogs NI. Representatives noted that curlews raised in captivity have previously gone on to nest successfully on Sliabh Beagh.

Members of the public are asked to avoid disturbing curlews or their nests and to keep dogs on leads in breeding areas. Sightings can be reported to the RSPB or the Sliabh Beagh Curlew Conservation Trust.