IT was once a widespread sight in Scotland's fields and hay meadows, while the countryside would ring to its distinctive rasping call.
But now the long-term term survival of one of Scotland's rarest breeding birds is under increasing threat after this summer's annual survey showed another drop in numbers.
The shy and elusive corncrake faces a perilous future as habitat loss and changes in farming methods force the species to the edge.
A survey of the birds' numbers carried out by RSPB Scotland recorded just 870 calling males, down from 897 last summer.
The new figure is also down by more than 30 per cent from the high of 1282 males in 2014.
The birds have a distinctive call.
RSPB Scotland said that persistent low numbers over the last five years show that the red listed species is "struggling to recover".
Corncrakes, a brown, speckled bird which grow to be about the size of a blackbird, are a summer migrant to Scotland, flying from central and southern Africa to breed.
Related to moorhens, coots and rails, they live on dry land and favour grasslands and heath where tall plants can conceal their nests and eggs.
But changes in UK agricultural practices through the 20th century led to a massive reduction their range and numbers, and by the early 1990s the birds were confined to a few isolated pockets in Scotland, mostly on islands and the North West coast on farms and crofts.
READ MORE: The crisis of the vanishing birds
Schemes were introduced to create corncrake-friendly conditions, including delaying mowing dates and creating corridors of vegetation for the birds and their chicks to move through and take cover in, resulting in a high point in 2014. But since then fewer and fewer corncrakes have been making the journey north each year.
The causes behind the birds' decline are not fully understood although, though possible explanations may be found in their wintering grounds in the Southern Hemisphere or in their migration routes, as well as climate change and the effect of late springs.
But loss of habitat in its breeding grounds across Europe is believed to be the chief cause, leading to efforts to conserve the increasingly rare species.
Corncrakes shelter in long grasses
While numbers of the birds in the Outer Hebrides increased compared with 2018 -- with important gains in North Uist and South Uist -- these were outweighed by declines elsewhere in the same period, including overall across the Inner Hebrides.
One of the most dramatic declines occurred on Colonsay and Oronsay, where conrcrake numbers halved from 41 last year to just 20.
On Skye, the population fell from 17 last year to just 13 this summer, while on Islay -- another key site -- they dropped from 60 to 54.
There were none at all counted on the Isle of Mull, where there were two recorded last year.
READ MORE: Chris Packham targets grouse moors after eagles vanish
However, numbers of calling males detected on Orkney showed a slight increase - from 13 in 2018 to 19 this year, more than double the number recorded in 2017.
Efforts are now underway to help save the species, and RSPB Scotland said that corncrakes were helped largely through partnerships between those who work the land and environmentalists, where farmers and crofters are paid to ensure that there is good habitat for the birds.
They said the continuation of such support was "vital to ensure the corncrake’s survival in Scotland".
Numbers have fallen across the country
The wildlife charity is also developing a new project to help secure the future of the birds. Saving Corncrakes through Advocacy, Land management and Education (SCALE) was awarded more than £30,000 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in August 2018 in development money, ahead of applying for a full grant later this year.
If successful, SCALE will focus on three key areas, including advocating for government agri-environment schemes which are better for biodiverse wildlife including corncrakes; supporting crofters and farmers with funding, advice and practical support to farm in corncrake friendly ways; and raising local and national awareness of the elusive birds.
Chris Bailey, Advisory Manager at RSPB Scotland, said: "The 'crex crex' call of a male corncrake used to be one of the sounds of summer across the UK and it’s vital that it is not lost altogether from here.
READ MORE: Gamekeeper who slaughtered wildlife avoids jail
"Corncrakes are a huge conservation priority in Scotland for RSPB Scotland, and for the Scottish Government under their Biodiversity Route Map.
"This year’s results highlight the essential support agricultural communities on Scottish islands provide to this rare and secretive bird by managing their land in a corncrake friendly way -- they are the stronghold for this species and the support they receive must continue over the long-term if we’re to have a real chance at ensuring corncrakes continue to breed in Scotland every summer."
He added: "We hope that our SCALE project will be awarded the full grant to allow us to undertake such work to improve the fortunes of the species in the future."
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