Corncrake Welfare: Late Mowing Schemes in Ireland and Scotland

Corncrakes have declined catastrophically in Britain and Ireland due to early mechanical mowing, but targeted late-mowing schemes are reversing declines in remaining strongholds.

Key Facts

Corncrakes declined by over 95% in Britain during the 20th century due to agricultural intensification
They are now confined to the Western Isles of Scotland and parts of Ireland as UK breeding birds
Early mechanical mowing kills incubating females and chicks that cannot escape fast enough
RSPB and SNH late-mowing schemes require cutting after 1 August and from the centre outward
Irish and Scottish populations are recovering slowly under targeted agri-environment management

Welfare Considerations

Early mowing is a direct welfare catastrophe for corncrakes: females incubating or brooding chicks are killed directly by cutting machinery, or chicks are killed when unable to escape the advancing mower front. The Scottish and Irish late-mowing schemes address this welfare impact directly by delaying cutting until chicks are mobile. The inward-to-outward mowing direction has been replaced by outward cutting that allows birds to flush ahead of the machinery rather than being trapped.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and Irish Wildbird Conservancy corncrake conservation schemes
If farming in corncrake areas, participate in late-mowing agri-environment schemes
Report corncrake calls (heard more than seen) to national recording schemes
Donate to organisations managing traditional meadow and machair habitat for corncrakes
Advocate for continued funding of corncrake conservation agri-environment payments