Rare breed birds decline

The corncrake, one of Scotland’s rarest breeding birds, has suffered a poor season with numbers dropping by nearly a fifth.

In an annual RSPB Scotland survey, the number of calling males recorded fell by 17% compared to last year, with only 1,069 being counted.

In 2014 there were 1,289 calling males counted, the highest total in at least 45 years.

Corncrakes are elusive, pigeon-sized birds which breed in Scotland over the spring and summer, migrating to Africa in winter.

They are found in only a few isolated parts of the country, mainly on the islands.

The isle of Tiree holds the most corncrakes with 333 calling males counted in 2015.

Nearly all parts of the country which corncrakes occupy witnessed

“Numbers are fluctuating because of cold springs”

a drop in numbers this year, except for a few places such as the islands of Islay and Iona which both had a slight increase, and the isle of Mull which stayed the same.

Paul Walton, head of habitat and species for RSPB Scotland, said: “The corncrake has recovered well since the early 1990s, and that’s thanks to agricultural communities on the islands. But now that recovery has slowed and numbers are fluctuating, we think in response to cold spring weather.

“This species remains a huge conservation priority in Scotland. We must remember that the corncrake remains highly localised.

“Though numbers have increased, the conservation programme has not yet succeeded in spreading the population further than its low point in 1991.