Corncrake chicks point to recovery on Rathlin Island
Wildlife cameras captured young birds after years of targeted habitat management by farmers and conservationists.
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On Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland, corncrake chicks have been captured on wildlife cameras for the first time in years. The sighting confirms that the rare bird has bred there and is seen as the result of cooperation between farmers, landowners, volunteers and conservationists.
According to Agriland, the footage was recorded as part of the PeacePlus Nature programme, in cooperation with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Northern Ireland. The young corncrakes were captured on Rathlin Island, off the coast of County Antrim. Four calling males had already been heard there in the summer.
The corncrake was once widespread in Northern Ireland, but numbers fell sharply because of changes in farming practices and the loss of suitable habitat. The bird breeds in tall, dense vegetation and is therefore difficult to see. In this case, camera footage provides stronger evidence than simply hearing calling males.
The recent sighting is not an isolated event. The RSPB reports that, after an absence of about twenty years, the species is once again breeding regularly on Rathlin. The recovery programme works with local farmers and landowners on vegetation management that provides cover during the breeding season.
According to PeacePlus Nature, different forms of cover are being tested so that the birds can find suitable places throughout the breeding season. Such measures are small-scale, but can be important for species that depend on specific farming and landscape conditions. Volunteers also play a role in monitoring and management.
The footage does not mean that the corncrake is out of danger in Northern Ireland. The species remains rare and is globally threatened. Moreover, one successful breeding season says little about the long-term trend. That requires several years of reliable counts.
Nevertheless, Rathlin shows how nature recovery becomes possible when conservation policy aligns with local land use. Farmers provide space and adapt their management, while conservationists organise knowledge, monitoring and funding. The result is not the spectacular return of a large population, but it is a concrete sign that targeted protection can make breeding possible again.
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The recent breeding sighting and the organisations involved were reported by Agriland. RSPB and PeacePlus confirm the recovery programme’s background and the role of habitat management.
- confirmed Wildlife cameras captured corncrake chicks on Rathlin Island. — Agriland reports the camera footage and the breeding success. source
- confirmed Four calling males were heard in the summer. — This is stated in the Agriland report and in the RSPB publication. source
- confirmed The recovery programme works with farmers, landowners and volunteers to create suitable habitat. — RSPB and PeacePlus describe this cooperation and the vegetation management. source
- confirmed The species remains rare and globally threatened. — RSPB describes the corncrake as a globally threatened species. source
Editor's note
The chicks were recently captured on camera, and the earlier presence of calling males has been confirmed by RSPB NI. The long-term trend remains uncertain because several breeding seasons are needed.Sources
- Corncrake chicks caught on camera as farmers praised for support — Agriland
- RSPB NI confirms four calling Corncrakes on Rathlin Island — RSPB Northern Ireland
- Corncrake Recovery on Rathlin Island — PeacePlus Nature
More on this in Dutch media
- Trouw — „korenhoen rathlin island”
- RTL Nieuws — „korenhoen rathlin island”
- FD — „korenhoen rathlin island”