Wildlife Welfare

Wild Corncrake Recovery in Ireland

Corncrakes have undergone dramatic recovery in Ireland through agri-environment schemes that delay cutting of meadows until after breeding. This directly reduces chick mortality and adult disturbance.

Key Facts

Corncrakes declined by over 95% in Britain and Ireland during the 20th century
Machine cutting of grass before June kills corncrake chicks and flushes adults to predators
Ireland now holds the majority of the British Isles corncrake population
Agri-environment payments compensate farmers for delayed cutting and rough grassland management
Corncrake calling males can be heard from May to August and surveys track population trends

Welfare Considerations

Corncrake chicks that encounter mowing machinery during early season cutting face immediate death or serious injury. Adults flushed repeatedly from cover experience significant distress. Delayed cutting schedules directly protect individual corncrakes from these welfare harms while enabling population recovery.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes that protect corncrake habitat
Report corncrake calling to local bird surveys and wildlife trusts
Advocate for continued funding of meadow management incentive schemes