Efforts to increase the population of the corncrake in the west and north of Ireland appear to be paying off, with the numbers recorded in the core breeding areas of Mayo, Donegal and Galway having increased by 15% since 2022 - according to the latest survey from the National Parks and Wildlife Service - which shows an overall increase of 35% in the corncrake population in the past five years.
Corncrakes are shy and secretive farmland birds. Their distinctive call is a feature of the north and west coasts of Ireland. The corncrake is listed on the Red list of Conservation Concern, given significant decreases 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 and co-ordinated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (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.
Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, commented: “It’s fantastic to see that biodiversity action for the iconic corncrake is working. The increase from 161 to 218 birds in just five years is remarkable and a testament to the hard work and commitment of so many, not least the farmers and communities at the heart of the effort.
“While the future of the birds is not yet secure, my commitment to continue the conservation efforts beyond the term of the LIFE project, and the strong collaboration between NPWS and the new Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine ACRES Cooperation projects, will help to ensure this legacy continues in the longer term.
“As this project has shown, the NPWS is committed to working in cooperation with landowners across our protected area network to deliver for both people and nature.”
Ciaran Reaney who co-ordinates the NPWS Corncrake Conservation Programme said: “We are now seeing the birds expand their range into new areas in Sligo and Kerry as well as areas outside the core LIFE project sites. This is great news and even better that NPWS has the supports in place to grow the success of the LIFE project work and make potential actions for the birds available to more farmers. This summer we had a corncrake on the Aran Islands in County Galway for the first time in over 25 years and the farmers on the island couldn’t have been more helpful. I think people have a real grá for the corncrake and want to hear it back in our landscape.”
Dr. John Carey who manages the Corncrake LIFE project and oversees the NPWS Corncrake Programme, said the project has gone from strength to strength, adding: “Between the LIFE project and the NPWS conservation measures programme there are now over 250 farmers and landowners managing close to 1500 hectare of lands for corncrakes. A huge debt of gratitude has to go out to all the farmers, advisors, contractors and members of the local communities who work with us across Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Kerry. This success really belongs to them, and they deserve it having put in such a monumental effort. Hopefully 2024 will see even more birds return home to the west of Ireland and the remarkable call of the corncrake continue to be a part of the sound of the summer.”
