Crumbly curlew eggs may pose another threat to species, say UK scientists

It is thought curlews could die out in eight years if nothing changes. Photograph: Lough Neagh Partnership/PA

A scientist has started a national investigation into curlews, after noticing in a small-scale study that some of the eggs being laid by the endangered birds were unusually fragile and crumbly.

If it emerges that the problem is widespread, the fragile eggs could pose a grave risk to the future of the species, which has declined significantly in Scotland, England and Wales and by 42% between 1995 and 2008 in the UK overall.