Latest news with #GivingCorncrakeaHomeProject
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Record-breaking' corncrake count on Rathlin Island
The presence of six calling male corncrakes on Rathlin Island this breeding season has been hailed as a "record-breaking" milestone. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Northern Ireland (RSPB NI) has said it is the highest number recorded in recent memory and marks a huge step in the fight to protect the bird species. Since the 1970s, the Corncrake population has declined significantly, leading to the species being red-listed in both the UK and Republic of Ireland. The record number of male corncrakes being recorded on the island this breeding season has been largely attributed to the efforts of an ongoing RSPB NI volunteer-led project. The Giving Corncrake a Home Project, which was launched back in 2010, helps provide tall vegetation for corncrakes to hide in. Over the past 15 years, the charity's staff, volunteers, and local landowners have worked to recreate suitable breeding habitats for the corncrake on the island. This includes planting nettle rhizomes to provide the early, dense vegetation cover corncrakes need to nest safely. The project has been hailed as helping the bird return to Rathlin Island in 2014. Corncrakes are a secretive bird that prefer to nest in cover. When they return from their winter in Africa, tall vegetation on Rathlin Island is in scarce supply. Therefore, nettles are chosen due to their fast-growing nature. Although nettles are native to Rathlin, more are required from sites across Northern Ireland in order to create the ideal habitat around the field border. Corncrakes typically have two broods per breeding season and will also nest in the centre of the field once the grass grows. Liam McFaul, an RSPB warden on Rathlin Island, said it has been incredibly sad to watch the corncrake population decline over the decades, and spoke of the significance of this year's record count. "When I was growing up, corncrakes were everywhere, you couldn't step outside without hearing them. Now, even one call is rare. "That's why creating early cover with nettle rhizomes is so important. "Without it, corncrakes could have disappeared from Rathlin for good." Corncrakes are classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5. This secretive bird gives a rasping rattle as its breeding call - mostly heard at night, sometimes for hours on end. They prefer to nest in meadows and hay fields in areas with lots of tall plant cover, where they spend most of their time hidden from view. They are summer visitors to Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland, wintering in central and southern Africa. Corncrakes are round-bodied and long-necked, like a water rail, but with a short, stubby bill. The plumage is mostly yellowish-brown, with darker streaks on the back and pale bars on the flanks. There are grey patches on the throat and above the eye. RSPB NI's east area manager, Claire Barnett, has been part of the project for more than a decade and reflected on her time working as a senior conservation officer when she first heard the returning corncrake calls on the island. "I remember being out on Rathlin in 2014, walking the fields and hearing the corncrake call as they were becoming re-established," she said. "It was a moment of hope, but I never imagined we'd one day be hearing six - it's incredible. "This is down to years of hard work by our team, the community and volunteers. "We're aiming for ten calling male Corncrakes on Rathlin, and with the right habitat and care, we're confident we can get there." 'Massive changes' to Northern Ireland's coastline mapped 'If you damage heritage, you may end up with criminal record' The call of the curlew returns to Fermanagh island How to save native woodlands from invasive shrubs - one tree at a time
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nettles planted at Rathlin in bid to save endangered bird
Multiple tonne bags of nettles from across Northern Ireland have been shipped to Rathlin Island in an effort to support the endangered corncrake bird. The nettle rhizomes have proven to be a success with the secretive bird as they provide tall vegetation for it to hide in when it returns from wintering in Africa. The annual dig and planting is part of the Giving Corncrake a Home Project which is ran by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Despite the corncrake population declining since the 1970s, there have been three to five calling males spotted on the island over the last five years. From October to February, volunteers take part in digging up nettle rhizomes across Northern Ireland. Volunteers pressure wash the nettles to remove any unwanted seeds, soil or invertebrates, before placing them in tonne bags and taking them to Rathlin Island. In preparation for their arrival, the ground around the edge of a field on the island is ploughed - or tilled - so the nettle roots can be spread. Anne Guichard, a RSPB conservation officer, explained that rotten silage bales are then put on top of the nettle roots to "act as fertiliser". "Next season there will be nettles growing and hopefully corncrake will choose the place to breed," she added. Liam McFaul, an RSPB warden on Rathlin Island, said the project has "encouraged the corncrake to come back and breed". "Corncrakes are an endangered species they are on the red list, if care is not taken they will be totally extinct," he said. "We can't stand by and imagine another generation that will grow up to think: 'Why did somebody not do something?'" When the corncrake returns, tall vegetation is in scarce supply so nettles are an ideal habitat due to their fast growing nature. "They scurry into the nettles and hide straightway, and then they start calling for a mate and sometimes the first brood could be in the nettle bed," Mr McFaul added. Corncrakes typically have two broods per breeding season and will also nest in the centre of the field once the grass grows. Mr McFaul said later in the season the grass is cut "sensitively" and "slowly" from the centre out so the birds can escape. "We leave a wide area unmown at the edge of the field including the nettle beds as that late cover is equally as important for them growing up and preparing for their migration back to Africa," he added. Fiona Robinson, a RSPB volunteer co-ordinator said they are aiming "to create a sustainable population of corncrake" on Rathlin Island. "In two years time these [nettles] will be at a lovely height and they [corncrakes] will have a great home," she said. "Every male is going to have two or three females, that number has been steady and we are hoping that it is going to have a steady increase. "We are trying to make it to ten, so we could say we have a sustainable population on the island." Glenise Morgan participated in the nettle dig at Watertop Farm in Ballycastle during January. "It is lovely to see the result and realise how productive nettles are," she said. "I look forward to hearing that we have more corncrakes in the area." Shaun Boyd is a retired dairy farmer who participated in the RSPB project. "Sixty years ago whenever I was a wee boy on the farm with my father you would have walked the farm and you could have seen thirty or forty different species of birds on a Saturday evening," Mr Boyd explained. "Whenever I retired ten years ago I had time to look at nature and listen to nature, and from then I became interested in it again. "Being involved in nature is sort of born and bred inside me." Corncrakes are classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5. This secretive bird gives a rasping rattle for its breeding call - mostly heard at night, sometimes for hours on end. They prefer to nest in meadows and hay fields in areas with lots of tall plant cover, where they spend most of their time hidden from view. They are summer visitors to NI and parts of Scotland, wintering in central and southern Africa. Corncrakes are round-bodied and long-necked, like a water rail, but with a short, stubby bill. The plumage is mostly yellowish-brown, with darker streaks on the back and pale bars on the flanks. There are grey patches on the throat and above the eye. Nettles helping to bring back island's corncrakes Woody the dog switches detection skills to save puffins
BBC News
22-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Rathlin Island: Nettle roots arrive to support corncrakes
Multiple tonne bags of nettles from across Northern Ireland have been shipped to Rathlin Island in an effort to support the endangered corncrake nettle rhizomes have proven to be a success with the secretive bird as they provide tall vegetation for it to hide in when it returns from wintering in annual dig and planting is part of the Giving Corncrake a Home Project which is ran by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).Despite the corncrake population declining since the 1970s, there have been three to five calling males spotted on the island over the last five years. From October to February, volunteers take part in digging up nettle rhizomes across Northern pressure wash the nettles to remove any unwanted seeds, soil or invertebrates, before placing them in tonne bags and taking them to Rathlin preparation for their arrival, the ground around the edge of a field on the island is ploughed - or tilled - so the nettle roots can be Guichard, a RSPB conservation officer, explained that rotten silage bales are then put on top of the nettle roots to "act as fertiliser"."Next season there will be nettles growing and hopefully corncrake will choose the place to breed," she added. 'They are on the red list' Liam McFaul, an RSPB warden on Rathlin Island, said the project has "encouraged the corncrake to come back and breed"."Corncrakes are an endangered species they are on the red list, if care is not taken they will be totally extinct," he said."We can't stand by and imagine another generation that will grow up to think: 'Why did somebody not do something?'"When the corncrake returns, tall vegetation is in scarce supply so nettles are an ideal habitat due to their fast growing nature."They scurry into the nettles and hide straightway, and then they start calling for a mate and sometimes the first brood could be in the nettle bed," Mr McFaul typically have two broods per breeding season and will also nest in the centre of the field once the grass McFaul said later in the season the grass is cut "sensitively" and "slowly" from the centre out so the birds can escape. "We leave a wide area unmown at the edge of the field including the nettle beds as that late cover is equally as important for them growing up and preparing for their migration back to Africa," he added. 'Sustainable population' aim Fiona Robinson, a RSPB volunteer co-ordinator said they are aiming "to create a sustainable population of corncrake" on Rathlin Island."In two years time these [nettles] will be at a lovely height and they [corncrakes] will have a great home," she said."Every male is going to have two or three females, that number has been steady and we are hoping that it is going to have a steady increase. "We are trying to make it to ten, so we could say we have a sustainable population on the island." Glenise Morgan participated in the nettle dig at Watertop Farm in Ballycastle during January. "It is lovely to see the result and realise how productive nettles are," she said."I look forward to hearing that we have more corncrakes in the area." 'Listen to nature' Shaun Boyd is a retired dairy farmer who participated in the RSPB project."Sixty years ago whenever I was a wee boy on the farm with my father you would have walked the farm and you could have seen thirty or forty different species of birds on a Saturday evening," Mr Boyd explained. "Whenever I retired ten years ago I had time to look at nature and listen to nature, and from then I became interested in it again."Being involved in nature is sort of born and bred inside me." How to identify a corncrake Corncrakes are classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern secretive bird gives a rasping rattle for its breeding call - mostly heard at night, sometimes for hours on prefer to nest in meadows and hay fields in areas with lots of tall plant cover, where they spend most of their time hidden from are summer visitors to NI and parts of Scotland, wintering in central and southern are round-bodied and long-necked, like a water rail, but with a short, stubby bill. The plumage is mostly yellowish-brown, with darker streaks on the back and pale bars on the flanks. There are grey patches on the throat and above the eye.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nettle dig 'positively' supports Rathlin's corncrakes
The population of corncrakes on Rathlin Island is being "positively" maintained with the help of an annual nettle dig, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has said. Since the 1970s, the corncrake population has hugely declined leading to them becoming a red listed species in the UK and Ireland. However, the "Giving Corncrake a Home Project" encouraged the bird to return to Rathlin Island in 2014 and since then, up to five Corncrakes have been spotted. Anne Guichard, a RSPB conservation officer recognises the "numbers are still very low" as the organisation hopes to see more return. The project, which is held during the winter months, harnesses the help of farmers, landowners and volunteers to provide tall vegetation for corncrakes to hide in. "We dig nettle roots which we call rhizome, we wash them and then we bring them onto Rathlin Island," Ms Guichard said. "Corncrake love nettles because they are a plant which grow quite early in the season. "When they come back from migration in April, the grass in the middle will be very short so the nettle bed we will have built around the field margin will have grown enough for them to hide when waiting for the grass in the middle to grow." Once the nettle roots are picked they are washed by a pressure washing to remove any unwanted seeds or invertebrates. Soil is also removed during the wash which makes the roots lighter to transport. In 2024, the RSPB covered 250 sq m of Rathlin Island with nettle rhizomes. During the winter months of 2024/2025, the RSPB and its' volunteers have gathered about 14 tonne bags of nettle rhizomes. About three to four calling males have been recorded from 2022-2024. One of the volunteers, Patrick O'Donnell, shares how he has a special connection with the project. In the early 1950s, from the age of three to eight, Mr O'Donnell lived on Rathlin Island, his mother was from the island and his father was the lighthouse keeper. "I had five happy years on Rathlin and it was during that time on my granda's farm that the corncrake was living on Rathlin then and I actually saw one," Mr O'Donnell said. David Murphy and Arthur Watson also took part in the initiative to give corncrakes "a hand". Mr Murphy said the project builds on other initiatives which have been carried out on the island. "I think it is important to go back to the recent attempts to get rid of both the ferrets and the rats and I think that also helps the corncrakes," Mr Murphy said. Mr Watson recalls hearing the corncrake's distinctive call in Londonderry "years ago". "Farming was different, it was less intensive and there maybe wasn't as many cats especially," he said. "There were corncrakes in Donegal as well and they disappeared off the radar so I would like to help to bring them back." Glenise Morgan, who helped out at the nettle dig in Ballycastle said she done so as it is "frightening how much we are losing biodiversity". "I live in a rural area and you can just see how the fields are no longer supporting wildlife, hedges being cut down, the grass being cut," she said. "I thought get rid of nettles as soon as you could, now I realise they are so good for wildlife." Woody the dog switches detection skills to save puffins The call of the curlew returns to Fermanagh island
BBC News
08-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Rathlin Island: RSPB's nettle dig supports rare Corncrakes
The population of corncrakes on Rathlin Island is being "positively" maintained with the help of an annual nettle dig, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has the 1970s, the corncrake population has hugely declined leading to them becoming a red listed species in the UK and the "Giving Corncrake a Home Project" encouraged the bird to return to Rathlin Island in 2014 and since then, up to five Corncrakes have been Guichard, a RSPB conservation officer recognises the "numbers are still very low" as the organisation hopes to see more return. 'Corncrakes love nettles' The project, which is held during the winter months, harnesses the help of farmers, landowners and volunteers to provide tall vegetation for corncrakes to hide in."We dig nettle roots which we call rhizome, we wash them and then we bring them onto Rathlin Island," Ms Guichard said."Corncrake love nettles because they are a plant which grow quite early in the season."When they come back from migration in April, the grass in the middle will be very short so the nettle bed we will have built around the field margin will have grown enough for them to hide when waiting for the grass in the middle to grow." Once the nettle roots are picked they are washed by a pressure washing to remove any unwanted seeds or invertebrates. Soil is also removed during the wash which makes the roots lighter to 2024, the RSPB covered 250 sq m of Rathlin Island with nettle the winter months of 2024/2025, the RSPB and its' volunteers have gathered about 14 tonne bags of nettle three to four calling males have been recorded from 2022-2024. 'I actually saw one' One of the volunteers, Patrick O'Donnell, shares how he has a special connection with the the early 1950s, from the age of three to eight, Mr O'Donnell lived on Rathlin Island, his mother was from the island and his father was the lighthouse keeper."I had five happy years on Rathlin and it was during that time on my granda's farm that the corncrake was living on Rathlin then and I actually saw one," Mr O'Donnell said. David Murphy and Arthur Watson also took part in the initiative to give corncrakes "a hand".Mr Murphy said the project builds on other initiatives which have been carried out on the island. "I think it is important to go back to the recent attempts to get rid of both the ferrets and the rats and I think that also helps the corncrakes," Mr Murphy Watson recalls hearing the corncrake's distinctive call in Londonderry "years ago"."Farming was different, it was less intensive and there maybe wasn't as many cats especially," he said."There were corncrakes in Donegal as well and they disappeared off the radar so I would like to help to bring them back." Biodiversity loss is 'frightening' Glenise Morgan, who helped out at the nettle dig in Ballycastle said she done so as it is "frightening how much we are losing biodiversity"."I live in a rural area and you can just see how the fields are no longer supporting wildlife, hedges being cut down, the grass being cut," she said."I thought get rid of nettles as soon as you could, now I realise they are so good for wildlife."
