Wildlife

Wild Corncrake: Mowing Regimes and Breeding Season Welfare

Corncrake populations depend on specific agricultural management during the breeding season, with cutting practices directly affecting chick survival.

Key Facts

UK corncrake population is concentrated in the Western Isles and Northern Ireland
Corncrakes nest in hay and silage meadows where chicks are killed by cutting
Delayed cutting to late July and inward-to-outward cutting dramatically reduces mortality
SNH and RSPB nest protection payments have driven population recovery to over 1,000 males

Welfare Considerations

Corncrake chicks die in large numbers from machinery collision when meadows are cut before chicks fledge. Simple cutting timing and direction changes directly save lives. Agri-environment payments make this economically viable for farmers.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes that fund corncrake-friendly cutting regimes
Donate to RSPB corncrake recovery programmes
Advocate for corncrake cutting date requirements in farm subsidy conditions