Conservation and welfare of corncrakes in Scottish island grasslands and Irish habitats.
Key Facts
Corncrakes declined catastrophically following mechanised hay cutting
UK population is around 900 calling males, mostly on Scottish islands
Males call persistently at night from dense vegetation to attract females
Delayed mowing after August allows chicks to develop before hay cutting begins
RSPB and Scottish government support scheme payments incentivise late mowing
Welfare Considerations
Individual corncrake chicks face direct welfare risk from early mowing, with delayed cutting delivering measurable welfare benefits to known populations.
What You Can Do
Support RSPB corncrake conservation on Scottish islands
Advocate for delayed mowing schemes in agri-environment policy
Record corncrake call detections to assist population monitoring