Corncrake numbers rising as a result of conservation measures - ecologist
The "tide is slowly turning" for the endangered corncrake, according to an Atlantic Technological University (ATU) ecologist and researcher.
Dr. Andrea Parisi found that acoustic recorder devices and drones for airborne thermal imaging can be used to count these birds and may help with the conservation of the corncrake.
The corncrake was once abundant in rural Ireland before it became an endangered species due to change in land use, intensification of agriculture, increased generalist predators, and recreation.
Ireland had 4,000 breeding pairs in the 1970s, 900 in the 1980s, and then 150-200 in recent years. Dr. Parisi outlined his findings in his PhD project, 'Improving the Knowledge of Corncrake Ecology through Acoustic Monitoring and Airborne Thermal Imaging'.Supervised by ATU’s Dr. James Moran and Dr. Joanne O’Brien and Corncrake LIFE project manager Dr. John Carey, Dr. Parisi conducted his research in counties Galway, Mayo and Donegal between 2021 and 2024.
Thanks to the Corncrake LIFE project, which is funded by the EU and the Irish government, numbers are steadily increasing since new conservation measures were introduced, the researchers said.
Dr. Parisi said: “Farmers and other stakeholders came on board, changing and adapting practices to protect these precious species and their habitats, for example - leaving vegetation patches alone from February to September as nesting places and refuges for female corncrakes and their fledglings.”
'Umbrella species'
Dr. Parisi added that protecting the corncrake, along with breeding waders and other ground-nesting birds, "helps safeguard far more than a single species".
“The corncrake is considered an ‘umbrella species’, meaning that conservation efforts focused on it also preserve the wider ecosystem of semi-natural grasslands," he said.
“By maintaining these habitats, we create space for invertebrates, amphibians, and other ground-nesting birds such as the meadow pipits, skylarks, whinchat, and many more.”
The ecologist added that other birds “are equally endangered”.
“For example, Eurasian curlews are threatened with national extinction as only about one hundred pairs are left breeding in the country.
"The Northern lapwing is the national bird of Ireland, and yet it is in dangerous decline.
“I’m hopeful, as there’s been a tide turn in the past few years with political will to undertake the issues around these species, which are ecologically and culturally challenging.”
Dr. Parisi added that corncrakes have a short lifespan of “two to four years”.
“In Spain, France, Germany and Italy (northern) where I’m from, they are also extremely endangered.”The team’s research found:
- There is more corncrake calling activity during a full moon and bright nights between 10:00p.m and midnight (peak in late May/early June);
- Some corncrakes may make up to 10,000 notes (calls) per night;
- Each male may be identified by their unique call (with certain confidence);
- Male corncrakes may disperse over greater distances in well-connected landscapes that include multiple vegetation strips left unmown or un-grazed by farmers until later in the season.
