A CORNCRAKE UPDATE RSPB NATURE RESERVE 1995

A year ago when I wrote for The Coll Magazine, I was a happy man. The one hundred year decline in corncrake numbers had finally been halted, thanks to the intensive conservation efforts and the support of island crofters and farmers.

This year I'm ecstatic. The corncrake population has actually started to increase. Fifteen percent more sweetly (!) singing corncrakes were found throughout the Hebrides - and on Coll specifically the increase was phenomenal. An almost deafening 31 corncrakes were on the Reserve with 36 in total on the island. (In 1991 when the RSPB came to Coll there were 6 on the Reserve and only 20 on the whole island.)

The research work into the birds habitat requirements, followed by habitat management to provide the early cover in rough field margins and the late mowing of the meadows has proved successful. More importantly these vital corncrake requirements have been shown to be compatible with the local farming systems and a majority of island crofters and farmers now manage a part of their land with corncrakes in mind. The grant systems offered by the Government and the RSPB certainly help (money for old rope, some folk would say) but most people realise that the short summer Hebridean nights would be a poorer place without the rasping of a corncrake in a flower filled meadow.

Some aspects of conservation work can seem a touch esoteric - I certainly feel a bit removed from reality on approaching my 3000th grass height measurement in a day! But the corncrake work on Coll seems to strike a chord. The BBC Scotland natural history documentary, 'The Call of Coll', started a season where hardly a week went past without Coll and its corncrakes being in some newspaper or magazine. More visitors come to the island with corncrakes on their itinerary, some staying in B&B's or the Hotel, others staying at the Hebridean Centre on the 'Castles, Crofts and Corncrakes' study tours. Coll Stores produced 'corncrake mugs', which promptly sold out, and a flag waving flourish to all this corncrake interest was Prince Charles' visit to the Reserve. He showed a good understanding of farming and conservation issues and it was a pleasure to show him corncrake conservation for the brief hour he could spare.

With such a high level of interest in corncrakes from all sorts of people, with goodwill in the farming community, backed up by land management grants, and with research and innovative conservation techniques developed on the RSPB Reserve, the future for the corncrake looks good throughout the Hebrides and particularly on Coll.

Charlie Self. RSPB Warden.