Wildlife

Wildlife: Corncrake Wintering Habitat Welfare Africa

Corncrakes travel to Central and East Africa for winter, where habitat degradation and hunting pose welfare threats to birds that recovered in UK thanks to agri-environment schemes.

Key Facts

Corncrake UK population recovered from 400 to over 1,000 males through agri-environment
Corncrakes winter in East African grasslands where habitat is under threat
Hunting pressure on corncrakes in some transit countries affects population
Late grass cutting schemes allow chicks to fledge before harvest in UK breeding areas
Conservation success in UK can be undermined by winter range threats

Welfare Considerations

Birds that survive to fledging through UK conservation interventions then face welfare threats in migration and winter range. Holistic conservation must address threats throughout the annual cycle. Hunting of corncrakes in transit countries causes direct mortality and welfare harm to a recovering population.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB international work on corncrake winter range conservation
Advocate for UK international development funding to include wildlife conservation
Engage with BirdLife International corncrake conservation programmes
Celebrate corncrake recovery while understanding ongoing annual cycle threats