Wildlife Welfare

Wild Corncrake Welfare and Farming

Corncrake recovery in UK and Ireland depends on farming practices that delay mowing until after corncrake chicks have fledged in late summer.

Key Facts

UK corncrake population has declined from thousands to fewer than 1,000 calling males
Corncrakes are summer migrants arriving from Africa in late April
Early silage cutting kills chicks and interrupts breeding before fledging
Delayed mowing schemes with agri-environment payments have stabilised some populations
Flushing birds from field edges during mowing reduces direct mortality

Welfare Considerations

Corncrake welfare during breeding depends entirely on farming management decisions about mowing timing. Early silage cutting kills chicks directly and disrupts breeding, while simple management changes supported by agri-environment payments dramatically improve welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and wildlife trust corncrake conservation programmes
Advocate for agri-environment payments that fund corncrake-friendly farming practices
Report corncrake calls to the RSPB to contribute to population monitoring