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Corncrake back from the brink of extinction
AN old-fashioned bird thought to have long disappeared from the Fenland countryside has been brought back from the edge of extinction.
AN old-fashioned bird thought to have long disappeared from the Fenland countryside has been brought back from the edge of extinction.Conservationists are overjoyed that the corncrake, which has been on the endangered list for more than 80 years, has returned to the Nene Washes, in Coates, near Whittelsey, following a re-introduction project.
Twelve male corncrakes have so far been recorded this summer at the specially created site – making this probably the greatest single concentration of the bird in the southern half of England.
Chairman of Natural England, Sir Martin Doughty, said: "The combined efforts of many partners including farmers on the surrounding land, the RSPB and funding from Natural England, has made this happen.
"By cutting meadows late in August to minimise disturbance, we have made corncrake friendly habitat that is critical to the success of this project."
Population numbers made a sharp decline in the late 19th century due mainly to farmworkers switching from using scythes to cut hay, to using machinery.
The bird, which has a distinctive rasping call, makes its home in tall grass, but as the machines worked from the outside in, the birds moved to the centre of the meadow, and when the last blades were cut the birds were killed.
By the 1990s the birds were restricted almost entirely to the islands on the north and west coasts of Scotland, where crofting allowed them a restricted foothold.
But in 2001, a re-introduction programme began involving the release of hand-reared corncrakes bred at Whipsnade Zoo and acclimatised in pens at the Nene Washes.
Since then, 23 adult male corncrakes have been counted at the reserve, and this year, 12 males called at the site.
The RSPB's conservation director Mark Avery said: "It is a small but significant miracle that these birds, raised by keepers in a zoo, are capable of migrating successfully to Africa and back.
"Restoring lost wildlife is often difficult, and it is better not to lose it in the first place."
The corncrake project is a partnership of the RSPB, Natural England, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Pensthorpe Conservation Trust.
Corncrakes only summer visitors
A SAMPLE of 11 corncrakes which returned after release were temporarily captured to check for number identification rings placed on their legs before release. Nine out of the 11 were zoo-bred birds released the previous summer, but two were not ringed, and therefore believed to be the result of breeding in the wild.
Corncrakes are only summer visitors to the UK. In the autumn, they migrate to central Africa where they spend the winter.
Their return to the Nene Washes, from where they were released, can only be detected by the loud rasping calls of the adult males trying to attract a mate – they are notoriously difficult to see thanks to their cam- ouflaged plumage and secretive behaviour
External links: RSPB - more about the corncrake - www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/corncrake/index.asp.
Birds of Briatin - Corncrake -www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/corncrake.asp.
Nene Washes Corncrake Project - www.pensthorpetrust.org.uk/nene-washes-corncrake/index.htm.
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