Saving the corncrake - Encouraging figures

THOUGH the population increase was relatively small, anything that suggests the terminal decline of Ireland’s corncrake population might be arrested, if not reversed is very welcome.

Last year, for the first time in six years, the country’s population increased.

Though only five extra birds were recorded to reach a total population of 133, this is the first good news in a story that had an air of depressing inevitability about it for many years.

There is though, distressing news from one of the birds’ strongholds.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has described the situation on the Shannon Callows as “quite catastrophic”. Only two birds were found there last year.

In a world facing such international and domestic challenges, it might be hard to generate enthusiasm for a cause as marginal as saving Ireland’s corncrake population.

Nevertheless, considerable resources have been rightly dedicated to that objective.

Last year’s success, however small, suggests these efforts are being rewarded and that a viable population might yet be rebuilt.