Scotland's rare Corncrake population has suffered a modest but significant decline for the second consecutive year. Although far from returning to its plight in the 1980s, when the species was at risk of national extinction, recent declines do raise some concerns about the future of this important bird found in farmland meadows and crofts.
The corncrake is still regarded as one of the UK's biggest conservation successes. Following long term declines dating back to the 1920s , they numbered just over 400 in 1993, when a corncrake conservation programme began, which steadily increased the population to over 1200 in 2007. However, recent figures show a dip to just under 1,100. It may not be a big drop, and wild populations do tend to fluctuate, but it is important to make sure that the cause of this trend is established early.
A shy, farmland species, this bird migrates to Scotland in late spring where it uses the summer months to raise its young in the shelter of tall grasses. It needs to raise at least two broods of young to sustain its numbers. Once common and widespread throughout the UK, the intensification of agricultural practices , notably the cutting of hay and silage crops earlier in the year, reduced its preferred habitat and forced a rapid population decline. During the last century, this species disappeared from most of the country, eventually being almost entirely restricted to some of the Scottish islands. Yet since RSPB Scotland's corncrake conservation scheme began 16 years ago, a partnership between RSPB, Scottish Natural Heritage, government and most importantly crofters and farmers, the distinctive "crake crake" or crex calling of males has been heard more frequently in areas such as the Hebrides, particularly on islands like Tiree, Coll, Islay and the Uists.
This triumph has relied heavily on the partnership of farmers and crofters working with conservation bodies. Environmental payments have allowed farmers to manage hay and silage fields sensitively and delay harvests until after the main corncrake breeding season. Government agri-environment grants, offering financial incentives for this work, lie at the heart of the success.
Dr Paul Walton, head of species and habitats at RSPB Scotland, said: "In the last two years a change to the new Scottish Rural Development Programme means there is more competition for payments and farmers and crofters with corncrakes on their land tell us they have less chance of winning funding for their vital work. Whilst the measures theSRDP will fund for corncrakes are an improvement, the number of entrants taking on corncrake measures under the new scheme has fallen, perhaps by as much as half. This is a longer term concern, and could lead to the sound of the corncrake being lost again.
"Sufficient concern has now been raised for RSPB Scotland to consider further investigation of how we can ensure that the welcome measures in the Government's SRDP programme can reach farmers and crofters. We hope an analysis of the number and distribution of currently active corncrake management options will indicate whether the population decline is related to changes in corncrake friendly management and, if so, what can be done to remedy this before this iconic bird declines further."
