Corncrake rise pays off for farmers

The State has recorded a massive surge in the number of corncrake birds for the second year running with payments to farmers for conservation also on the increase.

The Department of Arts and Heritage confirmed that there were 230 calling corncrake males recorded in the country this summer— a 24% increase on the 185 that were recorded last year.

Out of the 230 corncrakes in Ireland the largest concentration was in Donegal, where 156 calling males were counted, with 108 of those on islands off the county’s coast.