Corncrake Welfare and Agricultural Conservation

The corncrake is one of the UK's most endangered birds, dependent on traditional haymaking practices for its survival and breeding success.

Key Facts

Corncrake populations declined by around 95% in the UK during the 20th century due to changed agricultural practices
Early cutting of silage before chicks can flee kills adults, eggs, and chicks in large numbers
Recovery has occurred in Scotland and Ireland through delayed cutting and corncrake-friendly mowing practices
Corncrakes are migratory, wintering in central and southern Africa where they also face threats

Welfare Considerations

Corncrake welfare in the UK is dominated by the risk of mortality and injury during silage cutting. Birds flushed ahead of machinery may escape, but eggs and small chicks cannot, and adults caught in machinery suffer severe injuries. Corncrake-friendly farming practices — cutting from the centre outward, leaving refuge strips of uncut vegetation, and delaying cutting until after chick fledging — dramatically reduce mortality and welfare harm during harvest. These practices require farmers to accept some production constraints, which are compensated through agri-environment payments in participating areas. The corncrake's recovery story demonstrates that welfare-conscious farming and conservation can achieve remarkable population recovery.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes that pay farmers for corncrake-friendly haymaking practices
Donate to conservation organizations coordinating corncrake recovery programs in Scotland and Ireland
Advocate for continued funding of agri-environment schemes that deliver wildlife welfare benefits
Learn about and share the corncrake conservation success story to build support for wildlife-friendly farming