Wild Corncrake: Machair Habitat in the Hebrides

Machair grassland in the Hebrides provides optimal corncrake habitat. The traditional crofting system that creates machair is inseparable from corncrake welfare and conservation.

Key Facts

Machair is a unique coastal grassland habitat found only in northwest Scotland and Ireland
Traditional crofting practices including late hay cutting create the tall vegetation structure corncrakes need
The RSPB Corncrake Initiative pays crofters to delay mowing and adopt corncrake-friendly practices
Corncrake populations in the Hebrides have increased significantly under targeted agri-environment management
Machair supports numerous rare plant and invertebrate species alongside corncrakes

Welfare Considerations

Corncrake welfare in the Hebrides depends on the survival of traditional crofting practices that create machair habitat. Supporting crofting communities and their wildlife-friendly practices is inseparable from corncrake conservation.

What You Can Do

Support the RSPB Corncrake Initiative and crofter payments for wildlife-friendly management
Visit the Hebrides to hear corncrakes and support conservation tourism in crofting communities
Advocate for agri-environment funding that supports traditional crofting practices