The poor weather is delaying the breeding season for the corncrake. BirdWatch Ireland is calling on the Department of Agriculture to help save the species by compensating farmers to delay mowing hay, writes Nicola Tallant
Summer flooding of the Shannon Callows - one of just three areas in the country where the birds nest - has forced the corncrake to produce their broods later than normal. Experts believe the birds which nest on the ground will still be there as late as September.
"The farmers usually put off mowing their hay until August, but this year the corncrakes are going to be still nesting at that stage," said Ms Catherine Casey of BirdWatch Ireland. "It would be devastating to lose them. The corncrake has declined in huge numbers over the past 20 years because of developments in farming. They are the only bird which nests on the ground and new agricultural technology and equipment has virtually wiped them out. They nest in just three areas of Ireland and in all three we have a special project set up with farmers who delay cutting their meadows until August when the birds are gone.
"But this year in the Shannon Callows between Athlone and Portumna, there was flooding with the bad weather. They are going to be still there until September, but that means the farmers would totally lose their hay crop. We are calling on the Department to urgently ensure compensation to the farmers if they put back mowing their meadows." BirdWatch believes 54 birds nested last year on the Callows but this year just 20 have been recorded.
"In May and June when they would usually be nesting, the Callows were flooded with three or four foot of water. We were very concerned that we had lost the early nests. The floods went down in mid-June and we were thrilled when the birds settled for a later breeding season.
"Now that is under huge threat because of the looming cutting deadline. The farmers themselves don't want to destroy these birds and the local IFA are in agreement with us that they should be left to finish breeding before the hay is cut."
The birds breed up to 10 chicks in each brood and have two broods during the summer.
They migrate to Africa in the winter but have long been associated with Ireland, featuring in many poems including those by Séamus Heaney. They breed in the Shannon Callows where last year's count showed 54 singing males, 20 were recorded in the midlands and 100 have been listed in north Donegal.
"The corncrake is classified as globally threatened and our project is an attempt to protect what is left in Ireland. The Department of Agriculture must step in," said Ms Casey.