Corncrake grants proving a success in saving rare species
8 May 1996
By TOM GILLESPIE
Government Minster Michael D. Higgins has come to the rescue of the corncrake which has been threatened by modern farming methods. The bird with its unique "crek-crek" call is only to be found in three locations in Ireland -- the Shannon Callows, North Donegal and Mayo.
The species was on the brink of extension and up to 1994 the population had dropped from 903 singing birds to just 129. But with the introduction of corncrake-friendly farming, the numbers had risen in 1995 for the first time since records began, to 174.
Minister Higgins has allocated a further £64,000 to the Irish Wildbird Conservancy for the operation this year for the corncrake grants scheme under which farmers will be paid to delay the cutting of hay or silage until August and mowing from the centre.
Most of the arrangements are expected to be under the REPS scheme and the measures involved will principally relate to dates of closing or meadows, dates of cutting hay or silage and mowing from the centre out. Farmers who do not wist to participate in the REPS may be offered anew scheme whereby the portion of land which contains corncrakes will be purchased by the national parks and Wildlife Service and leased back to the farmer to be managed in a corncrake friendly fashion.
According to Irish Wildbird Conservancy field worker Tom Gordon the main dangers to corncrakes comes from modern methods of mowing. He said: "Yet there are a number of things we can do to help save the corncrake from destruction. Many of these remedies rely on the good will and co-operation of farmers."
These included phoning the corncrake hotline on 096 51326 on hearing a singing corncrake where free advice and details of payments under the scheme. He said areas of rough vegetation around farm buildings, ditches or hedges should be left uncut during the spring and summer to provide somewhere for the corncrakes to nest when they arrive from south-west Africa. This vegetation should be left uncut when saving fodder.
Farmers should look out for corncrakes when mowing. If they see any they
should slow down or stop to allow the birds to escape. If they remain in the
area the birds will sit tight..
Farmers can mow in a corncrake friendly way (see above). Avoid mowing in a
spiral inwards from the outer edge of the field.
This traps the chicks in a central island where they are often killed in
the final few cuts.
The grants amount to £120/ha for hay or silage and £20/ha for cutting in a
corncrake friendly way
Connaught Telegraph - News - May 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sports - May 1996
