Wildlife

Wild Corncrake Scotland Population Welfare

Scottish corncrake populations are recovering through targeted conservation on the Western Isles and other strongholds.

Key Facts

Scotland holds the majority of UK corncrake breeding pairs, mainly on the Western Isles
Population recovery to over 1,000 calling males represents conservation success
RSPB conservation corncrake management includes payments for farmer-friendly practices
Corncrakes migrate from sub-Saharan Africa each spring, arriving in late April
Climate change is affecting arrival timing and breeding season in some populations

Welfare Considerations

Scottish corncrake recovery represents direct welfare improvement through habitat management. Each additional calling male reflects a bird able to establish a territory and attempt breeding in appropriate habitat. Conservation payments enabling farmer-friendly practices directly support individual bird welfare through reduced mowing casualties.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB corncrake conservation on the Western Isles through donation
Advocate for sustained agri-environment funding supporting corncrake-friendly farming
Contribute to corncrake calling surveys on the Western Isles