As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Thursday 16 November 2017

Rare birds could disappear from Scotland

RSPB Scotland has said that corncrake numbers have dropped sharply

9th November 2017 by Gareth Jones

Corncrakes are becoming increasingly vulnerable following a fall in their numbers for the third year running, RSPB Scotland has warned.

In 2017 only 866 calling males were recorded during RSPB Scotland’s annual survey. This is a drop of 17% from 2016, and down 33% from the 2014 high of 1,289 males. 

There were glimmers of hope in some areas such as Barra and Vatersay with a 47% increase from last year but these numbers were outweighed by losses elsewhere; Benbecula’s population was down 64%, and Durness has seen a 53% drop.

The overall sharp decline has prompted concern from RSPB Scotland that the long term survival of the birds as a breeding species is now under threat.

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