Irish Examiner view: Corncrake refuge a cause for hope

National Parks and Wildlife Service plan encourages farmers to delay harvest until birds have reared young

Just 162 calling male corncrakes were recorded in Ireland last year.

Last year, just 162 calling male corncrakes were recorded in Ireland; sad proof that the bird whose distinctive ‘krek-krek’ was once a common summer sound has dwindled to near extinction because of intensive farming.

There is reason to hope, though. The National Parks and Wildlife Service, under its corncrake farm plan, has encouraged farmers to delay harvests until the birds have reared their young.