Govt launches EU-funded LIFE project to encourage farmers to revive ‘the bird of the meadow’

Back in the 1960s, the country had an estimated 4,000 individual corncrakes, but last year only 188 calling males were recorded

The population of the corncrake, once synonymous with the Irish countryside, has declined by 85% since the 1970s.

FARMERS have a big role to play in protecting the endangered Corncrake when mowing meadows during the summer.

The bird, which breeds in Ireland from April to September before migrating to Africa for the winter, is in danger of global extinction due in most part to intensive farming practices. Early mowing to make silage and mechanised haymaking practices have destroyed nests and driven the corncrake from old habitats.