Shannon floods threaten endangered corncrake

I believe your report on the Corncrakes, 2006 needs to be updated.

I work at BirdWatch Ireland, with the Corncrake Conservation Project. You will find a full review of the 2006 season at http://davy-watson.blogspot.com/ as approved by the office and published in the local press.

Corncrakes bred on the River Shannon this year, although the extent of their success is not yet known. Chicks were observed. 17 male birds held territory and all of these territories were well protected until September.

It is true that flood will have caused problems, with the loss of the first broods in May, but it is likely that a number of birds managed two broods none the less, as some of the birds which were seen late in the season were not yet flying and almost certainly second brood chicks.

Slainté

Davy

Go raibh maith agat, Davy. I had, after searching the web to no avail, posted those figures straight from a local paper. I hope you don’t mind if I post the following straight from your fabulous blog:

This year there were only 17 birds recorded, south of Shannonbridge; Woodbank 1, Moystown 1, Lehinch 1, Bishop’s Island 3, Tower 3, Kilmeechon 1 and Baranagh, 1; north of the bridge there were 4 on the Clonmacnoise, Coolumber, Drumlosh, Curraghnaboll section and 2 at Clonburren (Fahn’s and Mather’s).

Now!