There has been a promising start to the year for those counting corncrake numbers, with 23 male corncrakes recorded to date.

Seven birds have been reported on Inisbofin Island, Co Galway, five on the Mullet Peninsula, Co Mayo, and at least seven birds on Tory Island, Co Donegal.

Liam Loftus, the project supervisor for the Corncake Conservation Project, told the Irish Farmers Journal that one bird has been confirmed in Renvyle, Connemara, Co Galway, a location where corncrakes have not been heard for up to 30 years.

He said the official corncrake census will begin on 19 May and runs until 10 July, during which time fieldworkers listen for calling males between midnight and 3am.

The project also relies on farmers and the general public to report any calling birds and safeguard their nesting areas, Loftus said.

Last year, 151 calling male corncrakes were recorded, an increase following three years of decline. It is hoped that numbers will be up again this year.

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Corncrake counting begins in the west

Farmers and fieldworkers in parts of the country have started to listen for the call of the corncrake.