State pays €400k to save the corncrake bird

The State has spent over €400,000 this year on the battle to save the corncrake bird from national extinction.

Figures provided by the Department of Arts and Heritage show that €408,948 has been paid out — with the vast bulk going to farmers — as the numbers of corncrake calling males reached the highest number recorded in 21 years of population monitoring under the Corncrake Conservation Project.

The 230 calling males recorded in the summer represents a 22% increase on the 188 recorded in 2013.