|
|
Corncrake returns to Inishowen
25.05.11
THE CORNCRAKE is making a strong return to Inishowen
with 13 recorded in the peninsula last year out of a
Donegal total of 91 birds.
The 91 corncrakes represented a rise of 24 birds on
the year before. And Co Donegal had the highest
number of corncrakes in the country last year - out
of a national total of 133.
The increase has been welcomed by the Corncrake
Conservation Project which is funded and managed by
the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Inch Island native Anthony Boyle is the new
corncrake fieldworker for Inishowen, Fanad and
Rosguil.
“Inishowen and Fanad did well last year. Inishowen
had 13 and Fanad had five birds,” said Anthony.
“Several birds turned up in areas where they hadn’t
been recorded for years, namely Carndonagh, Burnfoot
and Urris and they stayed long enough to have bred
successfully,” he said. |
 |
|
Inishowen conrcrake fieldworker,
Anthony Boyle. |
Anthony has worked on
local wildlife projects for several years and has
been involved in farming on Inch since childhood. He
is very familiar with farming practices in the area
and said Inishowen farmers are supportive of the
drive to preserve the corncrake.
“The return of the corncrake is mainly down to
corncrake friendly farming practices and the vast
majority of Inishowen farmers are supportive of our
project.
“The female corncrake tends to nest in sileage
fields so we ask farmers not to cut sileage before
August 5. This gives the chicks a chance to flee the
nest before the sileage is cut,” added Anthony.
The corncrakes are currently migrating to Co Donegal
from Africa and people are starting to hear them in
various places. The national total last year was 133
with 27 birds in Mayo, 10 in Connemara, three in
Sligo and two in the Shannon Callows. The
conservationists say the figures show Donegal’s
importance to corncrakes nationally.
West Donegal corncrake fieldworker, Sandy Alcorn
said: “It is known that mink, foxes, magpies and
grey crows all pose a serious threat to
ground-nesting birds. So this year again efforts
will be made to reduce the number of these predators
at corncrake sites. “Landowners around each site
will be asked for permission to enter their land and
it is hoped this effort will get the same level of
co-operation and support as last year.
“The corncrake is part of our countryside heritage
and hopefully if we all do our best to protect each
bird then Donegal will remain the corncrake capital
of Ireland.” |
|
