Joint flight bouts but short-term association in migrating Eurasian Curlews <i>Numenius arquata</i>

Capsule Migration associations by Eurasian Curlews Numenius arquata are temporary and last for single flight bouts between stopover sites.Aims Migrant shorebirds known to initiate migration communally, with groups of birds departing simultaneously from wintering or post-breeding fuelling sites, though the duration such migratory is not known.Methods Wintering breeding adult Curlews, some hand-reared juveniles, were equipped GPS tags record their migration.Results We describe four cases joint tagged which provided opportunity study associations.Conclusions lasted one bout only, separate departures subsequent site. This implies that might involve individuals ready leave at same time but those sharing a final destination. Our observations suggest associations, reminiscent dynamics fission-fusion society.