It's the time of year when the RSPB in Orkney are asking for public reports of any corncrakes heard around the islands.
In Orkney we are proud of being one of the few remaining places in the UK to have corncrakes, and now even have a beer named after them. Any day, we are expecting to hear the first birds that have returned to breed after spending the winter in central and southern Africa. Although corncrakes are rarely sighted, their distinctive, raspy ‘crek crek’ call, which once was familiar throughout the UK, can be heard mainly in the evenings over the summer.
You can hear the call here: www.rspb.co.uk/corncrake
It has been an exciting year for the corncrake in Orkney with the launch of Orkney Brewery’s Corncrake Ale, named after a bird nested near to the brewery in Quoyloo. However, to ensure that we continue to have these intriguing and secretive birds on the islands, we must continue to take measures to protect their habitat.
The RSPB's Corncrake Initiative scheme offers help to farmers with land within 250 meters of a calling male. The scheme encourages voluntary ‘corncrake friendly mowing’ and delayed grazing or mowing. Since 1993, more than 300 contracts have been signed by farmers and landowners in Orkney, protecting 86% of all monitored corncrakes. As a result there has been a slow increase in the Orkney population, with 31 calling males verified last summer, but corncrakes are still declining nationally.
We rely on public reports so if you hear a corncrake please call me, Amy, at the Corncrake Hotline on 01856 852 029 or email Amy.Liptrot@rspb.org.uk