The Irish Wild Bird Conservancy hotline is working to save the corncrake from extinction in the west. The summer bird is making a comeback as farmers delay the mowing of their meadows and cut from inside out to allow the young to escape.
Mayo IWC field worker Mr Tim Gordon said 15 singing corncrake locations were protected last year with the co-operation of 75 farmers who received over £15,000 in grants. Surveys show that 23 males were located last summer, representing a 17 per cent increase on 1994.