June 26th 1999

REPS & Environment

It is the season of hay meadows and corncrakes. Hay meadows need appropriate management. This hinges on low inputs of fertilisers and on late cutting.

Hay meadows are crucial to the survival of the corncrake, our only globally endangered bird. The move from hay making to silage cutting was one of the factors in the decimation of the corncrake population.

BirdWatch Ireland operates a Corncrake Grant Scheme to encourage farmers with breeding birds to manage their meadows appropriately. In the Shannon Callows, the stronghold of the corncrake, the incentives are £90/hectare for delaying cutting of meadows until 1st August. About 80 percent of farmers with corncrakes on their land avail of this incentive. Most also mow their meadows in a corncrake friendly fashion (from the centre out) meriting a further £20 per hectare.

BirdWatch Ireland offers £115/hectare to a limited number of farmers who are willing to delay mowing until after 15th August and £150/hectare if mowing is delayed to after 1st September.

Appropriate cover is needed by the corncrakes early in the season. The birds arrive in April, often before the hay meadows have much growth. Areas of nettles, iris and reeds serve well for a period until the meadows grow on.