A Second Chance

for a Vanishing Species

Six Bush Stone-Curlews. One carefully planned journey. Your support helps return them to the wild where they belong.

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There was a time when the call of the Bush Stone-Curlew echoed across much of Australia

Today, it is rarely heard.

Habitat loss and introduced predators have pushed this unique ground-dwelling bird to the brink. In many regions, it has quietly disappeared altogether.

But not everywhere.

Right now, a small group of six captive-bred curlews are preparing for something remarkable. A return to the wild.

And you can be part of it.

This is what Working 4 Wildlife stands for

real conservation.
With real outcomes.

Not just caring for animals. Not just sharing them with visitors. But actively working to protect and restore them in the wild.

In partnership with Amazement and Central Coast Zoo, this program marks a major milestone. A true breed-to-release conservation effort designed to rebuild populations of a threatened Australian species.

The Journey: From Care to the Wild

These six Bush Stone-Curlews have been carefully bred and raised on the Central Coast in a controlled, protected environment.

Soon, they will begin the next stage of their journey.

  • Transported from NSW to Phillip Island, Victoria
  • Introduced to a purpose-built pre-release enclosure
  • Given time to adapt to local conditions, sounds, and surroundings
  • Prepared for a full release into the wild between August and September

This gradual process is designed to give them the best possible chance of survival.

Every step is deliberate.
Every step matters.

Why It Matters

Across northern Australia, Bush Stone-Curlews remain relatively common. But in the south, where foxes and habitat clearing have reshaped the landscape, they have all but disappeared. Bringing them back means more than protecting what remains…it means actively returning a species to the country that has lost it.

Rewilding programs like this are essential when populations have declined beyond natural recovery. Without intervention, the curlew’s southern range continues to shrink. With it, there is a path forward.

This release is one piece of a broader national effort to restore the species to areas where it once thrived. It’s part of a long-term commitment to conservation, not a one-off project.

The Reality

  • Up to 90% population decline
    A once-common species is now rarely seen across much of its former range.
  • Locally extinct in multiple regions
    Silence has replaced their call in areas they once called home.
  • Predation remains a major threat
    Introduced species continue to impact survival rates in the wild.
  • This program starts with 6 birds
    But it represents something much bigger. A return.

Your Impact

Behind every successful release is a network of care, planning, and resources.

Your donation helps make this journey possible.

It supports:

  • Specialist breeding and care programs
  • Safe transport across state lines
  • Pre-release habitat preparation
  • Ongoing monitoring and conservation work

Each contribution plays a role in turning this moment into a lasting outcome.

In the coming months, these six curlews will take their first steps into the wild.

It is a quiet moment, but an important one. A small group of birds carrying the future of their species with them.

With the right support, moments like this can happen again. And again.

This is how conservation works. Step by step. Species by species. And it starts with people who choose to be part of it.

Be Part of Their Return to the Wild

Your support today helps give these birds a future in the wild.

Donate Now