THE CRAKE ESCAPE

Ireland’s elusive corncrake back from brink of extinction as Government’s €230,000 battle to save bird pays off

The Corncrake Project Annual Report shows 151 calling males were recorded, up eight per cent since 2014

By Niamh Anderson

11th January 2019, 7:06 pm

Updated: 11th January 2019, 7:12 pm

IRELAND’s elusive corncrake has come back from the brink of extinction with the number of males increasing over the past four years.

Last year, the Government spent €228,054 on its battle to save the bird and their efforts are starting to pay off.

The Corncrake Project Annual Report shows 151 calling males were recorded, up eight per cent since 2014.

Donegal and its islands held 90, another 39 were recorded in Mayo, 20 in Connemara, and two in Sligo.

The small reversal came thanks to last year’s exceptionally warmer weather.

The bird, known for its rasping call, was once widespread but was decimated following the introduction of mechanised farming.

Although numbers are on the up, the decline of the corncrake is still a ‘concern’ according to the annual report, however.

Scientists estimate that 150 to 200 species of plants and animals go extinct every day, most of which go unnoticed.

But luckily some animals around the world are bouncing back with the help of some human intervention.

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