Endangered Corncrakes bounce back - at least they did so this year - on remote island off Scottish Coast

The weather can be murky but Corncrakes like to come to Canna (photo: Robek via Wikimedia Commons)

ARE Corncrakes making a comeback on Canna, the most westerly island in Scotland's Inner Hebrides?

Yes, based on this summer's figures with National Trust Scotland recording 12-14 calling males compared with just one or two in previous years.

Says the Trust: "This  is a very welcome increase which can largely be  attributed to high nature value farming practices that support the conservation of this species. 

"We have been  working with crofters and farmers, and managing land directly, to increase the corncrake population to 50 calling males on Trust land in Canna and elsewhere in Scotland - some 76,000 hectares in all.

"This would account for approximately six per cent of the current UK population."

The island has five designated areas of farmland for Corncrakes.

These  are managed by Geraldine MacKinnon and the island farming team, with support from Tom Allen, the Trust’s ranger on Canna. 

The team undertakes farming practices to benefit biodiversity.

Extensive mixed livestock grazing of the hill ground in summer, combined with no mowing of the grassland fields, provides areas of undisturbed cover around the home farm for nesting birds. 

The crofters have also reported high levels of corncrake activity on the crofts they manage and graze with native cattle.

Says Tom: "We are really heartened by the success of Corncrakes on our farmland, and we hope this is a sign that things are moving in the right direction. 

"However, we know this is an endangered species, and their numbers are prone to fluctuations.

"We must continue to  monitor closely our Corncrakes  and do everything we can to support their  habitats."

In its latest press release, National Trust Scotland has issued this superb shot of a Corncrake on Canna by ace photographer, Mairead Wilkie