Wild Corncrake Agri-Environment Welfare

Agri-environment payments for corncrake-friendly farming directly fund welfare improvements for one of Britain's rarest breeding birds.

Key Facts

The Corncrake Initiative on the Outer Hebrides has been running since the 1990s
Payment rates for late cutting of hay and silage compensate farmers for reduced productivity
Wildlife-friendly mowing from the centre outward allows corncrakes to escape cutting machinery
Corncrake calling males are monitored annually providing a welfare and conservation indicator
Numbers stabilised and increased on the Western Isles following agri-environment intervention
Corn crake recovery requires sustained funding commitment beyond individual land management agreements

Welfare Considerations

Agri-environment payments for corncrake welfare demonstrate the effectiveness of paying farmers to change practices for wildlife benefit. The direct welfare impact is clear - conventional hay cutting timing kills adults and chicks during breeding. Payment for delay allows successful breeding and directly improves welfare for one of Britain's most threatened birds.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and Scottish Natural Heritage corncrake payment scheme funding
Visit the Western Isles during May-July to hear corncrakes and support eco-tourism
Donate to RSPB corncrake conservation and monitoring work
Advocate for sustained long-term agri-environment funding for corncrake-friendly farming
Learn about corncrake ecology and share conservation needs with others