Wild Corncrake Migration Welfare

Corncrake migration across Europe and the Sahara exposes birds to multiple welfare threats - monitoring and international partnerships address these.

Key Facts

Corncrakes undertake nocturnal migration to sub-Saharan Africa each autumn
Migration routes cross the Mediterranean and Sahara posing significant challenges
Illegal bird trapping in Mediterranean countries catches substantial numbers of corncrakes on migration
Satellite tracking has revealed previously unknown stopover sites requiring protection
Corncrake migration welfare is not addressed by UK breeding site conservation alone
International legal protection under the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement is relevant

Welfare Considerations

Corncrake migration welfare highlights the limits of national conservation. Birds protected and breeding successfully in UK crofts may be trapped and killed during Mediterranean migration. International cooperation on migratory bird protection, combined with ongoing monitoring of migration routes, is essential for full lifecycle welfare.

What You Can Do

Support BirdLife International campaigns against illegal bird trapping in Mediterranean countries
Donate to RSPB international work protecting migratory bird welfare beyond UK borders
Learn about migratory bird conventions and advocate for their implementation
Follow satellite-tracked corncrakes through RSPB migration tracking projects