Research by an Atlantic Technological University (ATU) ecologist has found that numbers for corncrakes are up slightly in the past five years due to conservation measures.
The corncrake, which was once abundant in coastal and rural Ireland, became an endangered species due to change in land use, intensification of agriculture, increased generalist predators, and recreation.
Whereas there were 4,000 breeding pairs in the 1970s, this fell to 900 in the 1980s, and just 150-200 pairs in recent years.
However, the tide is now slowly turning, according to the ecologist and researcher Dr Andrea Parisi whose PhD project has been published in Global Ecology and Conservation and Conservation Science and Practice.
Research Focus — Ecologist Dr Andrea Parisi of Atlantic Technological University whose PhD research found a slight rise in Ireland’s endangered corncrake following conservation measures
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 using acoustic recorder devices and drones for airborne thermal imaging.
His findings indicated that novel technologies can be used to count these birds and may help with the conservation of the corncrake.
Thanks to the EU funded Corncrake LIFE project, numbers are steadily increasing since new conservation measures were introduced.
“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,”Dr Parisi said.
Tech for Nature — Acoustic recorders and thermal imaging drones used by ATU researchers to monitor corncrake activity and improve conservation of the endangered species
His research also found there is more corncrake calling activity during a full moon and bright nights between 10pm and midnight (peak in late May/ early June).
Some corncrake may make up to 10,000 notes (calls) per night,he said, and 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 ungrazed by farmers until later in the season,”he said.
“Protecting the corncrake, along with breeding waders and other ground-nesting birds, helps safeguard far more than a single species,”he said.
“The corncrake is considered an ‘umbrella species’ meaning that conservation efforts focused on it also preserve the wider ecosystem of semi-natural grasslands. 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. “
“Other birds are equally endangered and part of the Irish landscape and culture, for example Eurasian curlews (Crotach in Irish) are threatened with national extinction as only about one hundred pairs are left breeding in the country,”he said.
“ The northern lapwing (Pilibín in Irish) is the national bird of Ireland, and yet it is in dangerous decline”he noted.
Call of the Corncrake — ATU ecologist Dr Andrea Parisi’s research finds a slight increase in Ireland’s endangered corncrake, with conservation measures and farmer cooperation helping protect nesting habitats.
“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,”he said.
“Corncrakes were part of the fabric and culture of old Ireland and hearing them evokes strong feelings. As part of the Corncrake LIFE conservation project, people from Dublin came to Mayo to listen to these birds. They reacted with amazement and joy. For many, it brought back memories of their early days and childhood,”Dr Parisi explained.
“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. Thankfully they are abundant still in Eastern Europe as land management practices there have not changed,”he said.
The Corncrake LIFE project is co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Ireland. See: Home - Corncrake LIFE
Listen to ATU Podcast: The Endangered Corncrake Species: How Conservation Measures Are Slowly Working in Ireland - ATU Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
Read about Dr Andrea Parisi’s PhD paper in Conservation Science and Practice (Volume 7, Issue 1, Jan 2025) The Society for Conservation Biology and Global Ecology and Conservation (Volume 58, April 2025) Passive acoustic monitoring of an elusive rail, the corncrake (Crex crex): Calling patterns, detectability and monitoring recommendations - ScienceDirect
