Corncrake Conservation on Scottish Islands

The Inner and Outer Hebrides hold the majority of Britain's corncrake population, where sympathetic crofting management has stabilised numbers.

Key Facts

The Outer Hebrides hold approximately 80% of the UK corncrake population
Traditional crofting practices including late hay cutting are essential for corncrake breeding success
Corncrakes have recovered on islands where agri-environment payments supported sympathetic management
Males call day and night throughout summer from dense vegetation with a distinctive rasping call
They winter in East Africa and return to the same territories each year

Welfare Considerations

Island corncrakes benefit from the combination of traditional crofting practices and targeted agri-environment support that has stabilised the population after severe decline. Individual corncrakes face welfare threats from machinery during haymaking if cutting proceeds too quickly from the outside inward, trapping birds. The island setting concentrates corncrake populations in areas where management changes have demonstrable welfare impact. Support for crofting communities maintaining corncrake-friendly practices therefore delivers direct welfare benefits to thousands of individual birds each breeding season.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment scheme funding for corncrake-friendly management on the Western Isles
Participate in corncrake night survey work to contribute population monitoring data
Advocate for continued support for crofting communities maintaining traditional land management
Visit the Western Isles to support tourism economies that value corncrake conservation