RSPB Scotland’s annual survey of corncrakes recorded only 824 calling males in 2022, compared to 850 in 2021, reflecting the ongoing challenges the species is facing. While this three percent decline is smaller than some of the previous recent year on year reductions it is a continuation of a worrying overall downward trend since the record high of 1289 males in 2014.

Corncrakes are counted across 16 areas in Scotland, with surveyors listening out for the distinctive “crex crex” call of the male birds. There are regional differences in the results this year with the Inner Hebrides seeing a rise of 3.7 per cent compared to 2021, but this increase was offset by decreases in other areas including the Outer Hebrides that saw a big 10.1 per cent fall.

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