Corncrakes survive in Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland in traditional hay meadow and iris bed habitats, and their welfare depends on farming practices that protect nesting birds.
Corncrake welfare on their remaining strongholds depends on the detailed management of hay cutting practices. Each nest destroyed by early cutting represents a welfare harm and a lost breeding opportunity for a species at the edge of UK survival. Agri-environment payments that reward late cutting and appropriate mowing patterns provide the financial incentive that makes welfare-positive farming viable for landholders.