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The highest number of corncrake territories in 25 years have been recorded this year, up 45% since 2018, the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) has said, adding that the Corncrake LIFE project areas have recorded a 35% increase in birds since it began in 2021.
The NPWS said that the involvement of the farming community is key to the success of the project, with 250 farmers and landowners now managing close to 1500 hectare of lands to assist in conserving corncrakes.
However, they added that despite the increases, and the fact that efforts to increase corncrake populations in the west and north west of Ireland are beginning to paying off, the birds remain vulnerable and at risk.
A 2024 survey from the National Parks and Wildlife Service shows an increase of in the national corncrake population by 15 birds, up 7% on 2023 figures. Furthermore, the numbers of corncrake territories recorded in the core breeding areas of Donegal, Mayo and Galway have increased by 45% on 2018 baseline figures.
Responding to the survey findings, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD said that the “impressive results are testament to the collaboration between farmers, landowners and the NPWS-led corncrake conservation projects”.
He said that on visits to these conservation areas, he had seen “the efforts being made and hear the corncrake”, and said that”the impact of this project is phenomenal and transformative for both local communities and the landscape.”
“The NPWS is now committed to ensuring this work continues when the Corncrake LIFE project finishes at the end of 2025. It has become a model for community-focused nature conservation,” he added.
“As this project has shown, the NPWS is committed to working in partnership with landowners across our protected area network to deliver for both people and nature.”
Corncrakes are shy and secretive farmland birds. Their distinctive call is a feature in some parts of the north and west coasts of Ireland, but was once widespread across the countryside.
The corncrake is listed on the Red list of Conservation Concern haven significantly decreased in both numbers and range in Ireland and other European countries. Since 2021, the Corncrake/Traonach LIFE Project, a five-year project funded through the EU LIFE Programme and led by the NPWS has been working on a number of measures to prevent the decline of the corncrake. Data about the corncrake population is gathered on an annual basis by the NPWS.
Corncrake conservation measures involve proactive planning with farmers in the breeding areas primarily on the north and west coast, as well as reactive measures where birds establish in new locations. Data from the project shows a number of measures which are effective in improving the bird’s habitat. The NPWS says that the creation of large patches of nettles or crops for them to hide in and delaying grass mowing into mid-August enable them to raise broods of chicks in safety. Studies show that mowing fields from the ‘centre-out’ rather than from the ‘outside-in’ can reduce chick mortality by up to 60%.
Agricultural contractors are key as they have the skills and knowledge to ensure that the birds are not harmed during harvesting time and the development of ‘flushing bars’ attached to mowers to scare birds out of the way is seen as an innovative development, the NPWS says.
Targeted grants and schemes can act as incentives for the farming community to protect the birds and give them a chance to raise their young. As the birds spread their wings into new areas around Ireland, the NPWS and the LIFE project are working together to ensure that supports are widely available to the farming community. New developments include a ‘corncrake habitat scorecard’ to inform a results based scheme for farmers operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Ciaran Reaney, who co-ordinates the NPWS Corncrake survey, said that despite a very cold and damp June, the corncrakes were reasonably active but the survey teams had to work hard to find the birds and confirm their territories later into the summer than expected.
“We are now regularly finding birds in new locations like in Co. Kerry and farmers and landowners who have not heard the bird in many years have been very receptive to working with us to protect the nesting corncrakes. There is still such a grá for the corncrake in Ireland that many farmers are willing to delay grass mowing in an attempt to save them and have them return”.
Dr. John Carey, who manages the Corncrake LIFE project, said they had seen year-on-year improvements in the number of corncrake territories and the expansion of birds to areas where they have been absent for a generation, but urged need to be cautious in terms of optimism.
“Corncrakes are still very vulnerable, both to changes within our landscape but also to the dramatic shift we are seeing in our weather patterns. This summer was very tough on a lot of wildlife, with a notable drop in insect numbers which can have a devastating downstream effect on birds like corncrakes. However, what is clear is that the exceptional effort being made by farmers and landowners is having a positive impact and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. The key now is to keep it all going,” he said.
Niall O’Donnchu, Director General, National Parks and Wildlife Service added that “The Corncrake LIFE project is an inspiring and successful model for the delivery of conservation measures and community engagement with farmers and landowners. The rebound in numbers is astounding and we want to continue in that upward direction.”
The LIFE project, led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Fota Wildlife Park, Atlantic Technological University and Údarás na Gaeltachta, focuses within eight core areas and the works towards the delivery of specialist actions for the birds.
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