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An extraordinary bird conservation project in Russia, which steals the eggs of the spoon-billed sandpiper, the most endangered shorebird in the world. There are only 200 breeding pairs left in the wild. Hence a daring conservation project at the bird’s breeding grounds in Russia. Eggs of the migratory shorebirds are taken from wild nests in the far north-eastern region of Chukotka and the chicks which hatch are reared in the safety of protected aviaries. That is much safer than being brought up in the wild where most chicks are eaten by other birds and foxes. Conservationists Roland Digby and Evgeny Syroechkovskiy talk to Ann Jones about spoonie ‘headstarting’.

(Photo: Headstarted spoon-billed sandpiper chick, newly hatched. Credit: Roland Digby/WWT)