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| A species under increasing threat - the corncrake (photo: RSPB) |
THE decline in corncrake numbers is continuing, according to RSPB Scotland.
It has put out a press statement with the disappointing news that, this summer, the number of calling males in ‘core areas’ was 870.
That’s down from 897 in summer last year.
Describing the figure as “alarmingly low”, the decrease has been more than 30 per cent since the 2014 high of 1,282.
“While numbers in the Outer Hebrides have increased overall in 2019 compared to 2018, this has been offset by declines elsewhere, including overall across the Inner Hebrides.”
Says a spokesperson: “The persistent low numbers over the last five years show that corncrakes are struggling to recover, with their long-term survival as a breeding species in Scotland under threat.
“At the moment, corncrakes are helped largely through agri-environment schemes whereby farmers and crofters are paid to ensure that there is good habitat for the birds.
“The continuation of such agri-environment support for Scotland’s farmers and crofters is vital to ensure the corncrake’s survival in Scotland.
“It also benefits other species.”
RSPB Scotland is developing a new project which it hopes will help to secure the future of these birds.
Saving Corncrakes through Advocacy, Land management and Education (SCALE) was awarded more than £30,000 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in August 2018 to develop the project, ahead of applying for a full grant later this year.
If the application is successful, SCALE will focus on three key areas as follows:
• Supporting crofters and farmers with funding, advice and practical support to farm in corncrake- friendly way
• Raising local and national awareness of these elusive birds through local events, ecotourism support, web pages, social media campaigns, films and podcasts and a touring exhibition.
Chris Bailey, Advisory Manager at RSPB Scotland, comments: “The “crex crex” call of a male corncrake used to be one of the sounds of summer across the UK.
“It is vital that it is not lost altogether from here.
Corncrakes are a huge conservation priority in Scotland for RSPB Scotland, and for the Scottish Government under their Biodiversity Route Map.
“This year’s results highlight the essential support agricultural communities on Scottish islands provide to this rare and secretive bird by managing their land in a corncrake friendly way.
“They are the stronghold for this species and the support they receive must continue over the long-term if we’re to have a real chance at ensuring corncrakes continue to breed in Scotland every summer.
“We hope that our SCALE project will be awarded the full grant to allow us to undertake such work to improve the fortunes of the species in the future.”
Corncrakes - relatives of moorhens and coots - were once found across the UK but changes in agricultural practices in the 19th and 20th centuries saw their range shrink to just a few places on Scottish islands and the north west coast.
The introduction of agri-environment schemes in the early 1990s helped their numbers increase but, even at the 2014 high, they remained a vulnerable species.
Corncrakes are elusive - more likely to be heard than seen.
They spend our winter months in Africa, with a small number making the long migration each year to breed in a few isolated locations in Scotland.
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