Sound of first ever Corncrake on Cruit Island, Co.Donegal

Ireland's unluckiest bird (after the eagle) is the Corncrake.

Its sad decline has been well publicised for many years. Only a few sanctuaries remain ... and yet over the recent June bank holiday (2010) my uncle and I heard one in full voice on Oileán Cruit in West Donegal.

I have been visiting there for over 30 years and never heard one before - nor has my uncle or anyone in his family.

However, there are 6 or 7 nesting on nearby Oileán Uaigh - so the bird we heard may be part of a new vanguard. He squawked his heart out for days.

Cruit seems well suited to him - lots of long grass. I just hope he manages to find a mate and survive.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• corncrake
• cruit
• island
• donegal
• ireland

[mrIdidntkillyou]

Mate if you go to owey island the island you look at from the pub there are quite alot of Concrates actually this is not the first sound of a concrate there i seen 1 on the island as it had broken it's leg i have a house on the island and my cousins and uncles all have houses

[roecaster]

Good to hear. There were corncrakes on the Island up until fairly recent years apparently.