Surge in the number of corncrakes continues

The State has recorded a huge surge in the numbers of corncrakes in Ireland for the second year running.

In a further victory in the battle to save the bird from national extinction, the Department of Arts and Heritage confirmed that preliminary figures from its 2014 census show 230 calling corncrake males were recorded this summer — a 24% increase on the 185 recorded last year, which represented an increase of up to 40% on 2012 — the highest percentage rise in almost 20 years.

However, the 2014 figures show that a previous corncrake stronghold, the Shannon Callows, is home to only one calling male.