Corncrakes are secretive birds - you’re far more likely to hear their rasping calls than see one. They were once widespread throughout the UK but their numbers declined catastrophically during the 20th century. By the 1990s they were only found breeding in the Hebrides, Orkney and some parts of the Scottish West Coast including Durness. Since then, thanks to close collaboration between RSPB Scotland, government bodies, farmers and crofters, corncrake numbers are on the rise. On this month’s Nature’s Voice Jane Markham talks to the RSPB’s John Bowler who monitors corncrakes on Tiree in the Hebrides and meets Paul Walton, head of habitat and species for RSPB Scotland to discover more about these birds and their changing fortunes
