Corncrake Numbers Stable on Skye Amidst Conservation Success
Conservation efforts by crofters and partnerships have helped maintain a significant population of the endangered corncrake on the Isle of Skye.
By Kirsty Lennox
••3 min read
AI
An endangered corncrake bird in tall grass on the Isle of Skye.
The Isle of Skye has once again heard the distinctive call of the endangered corncrake this summer, with conservation efforts by crofters and partnerships proving successful.
The familiar 'crex, crex' call of the corncrake, once perilously low on Skye, was heard across the island this summer. The Skye Crofting and Corncrake Partnership, supported by SAC Consulting, has implemented new land management strategies to encourage the elusive brown birds.
Latest figures from the RSPB for summer 2026 estimate 26 calling males on Skye. While slightly down from 28 in 2025, this number is considered an underestimate and signifies the ongoing success of the partnership's work. Skye remains one of the few Scottish locations where corncrakes can be found, alongside a single mainland site.
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"These figures are a testament to the efforts the crofters have made in what has been a tough year for them. While it may have been particularly warm and dry across a lot of the UK, it was a wet summer on Skye, which meant crofters often had to mow when they could. The continued success of this partnership underlines the efforts they are going to in supporting the species."
Corncrakes require tall vegetation for breeding. Crofters are encouraged to delay mowing silage and hay until August, after the first broods have fledged. Wildlife-friendly mowing practices, such as cutting from the centre outwards, allow corncrakes to reach field edges safely.
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"We are really pleased – these latest figures show that we can support and build a corncrake population here on Skye. At one point, numbers had fallen so sharply that we feared they would vanish from Skye, and from their other remaining strongholds in Scotland, within five years. Beyond the occasional remote island, it seemed they might disappear from Scotland altogether. We are really grateful to everyone who has contributed to such a successful initiative and, in particular, those who manage the land where we know corncrakes are present."
The RSPB monitors numbers by listening for male calls overnight. Some areas on Skye are noted hotspots, with Ms Parlane recalling hearing six males calling synchronously. The Skye Crofting and Corncrake Partnership comprises SAC Consulting, RSPB, NFU Scotland, the Scottish Crofting Federation, crofters, farmers, conservationists, and the local community.
The initiative began as the Corncrake Calling project (2020-2024), led by RSPB Scotland and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This funding enabled payments to crofters and farmers for delayed mowing, a practice continued by the RSPB in 2025 and 2026. Females and chicks undertake a 6,000-mile journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo for winter, returning in April. With a maximum lifespan of three years, successful breeding seasons are vital for the species' survival.
Crofters and farmers on Skye adapting their practices can receive support through the Corncrakes Initiative and the Scottish Government’s Agri Environment Climate Scheme (AECS). The 2027 AECS application round will open early next year. Further information on SAC Consulting support, including AECS advice, is available at www.sac.co.uk.
