Corncrake numbers increase after three years of decline

The number of corncrakes has increased in Ireland following three years of decline.

Figures from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) show that there has been an increase in the number of calling male corncrakes from 140 last year to 151 this year.

Last year, numbers declined 17% on 2016 and it was the third year in a row that the national population had declined.

Each year, the NPWS Corncrake Conservation Project conducts a census on the number of calling male corncrakes, which kickstarts every year around April, when the corncrakes migrate to Ireland from Africa. The project counts all of the calling male corncrakes in the known hotspots in Donegal and west Connacht.

Conservation efforts began in the early 1990s in order to halt the decline of the bird. In 2014, numbers peaked at 230 calling males. However, since then numbers have declined, until this year.

Farm plans and grants

In order to try and maintain the corncrake population, the NPWS launched a Farm Plan Scheme in 2006 which has an annual budget of €3m.

Depending on the plan, payment is on a flat rate basis or a costs incurred/income forgone basis or a results-based basis. Farmers can receive over €10,000 for taking part in the scheme.

The NPWS also has a Corncrake Grant Scheme, which is available to all landowners who have meadow within 250m of a calling male corncrake. Farmers in the Agri-Environment Option Scheme (AEOS), the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) and the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme are excluded from applying to this scheme.

In order to comply with the scheme, farmers receive a grant if they agree to delay the mowing of meadows, carry out corncrake-friendly mowing when cutting the meadow and leave an unmown strip of meadow along the side of the plot, if required.

Farmers who delay mowing until 5 August can receive a payment of €250/ha, those who delay mowing until 20 August can receive a payment of €325/ha and those who delay mowing until 1 September can receive a payment of €375/ha.

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