Once common sound now unheard
Have you heard a corncrake recently?
The distinctive rasping call of the reclusive birds used to be common on the Isle of Man and could be so loud in summer evenings that people were kept awake at night.
The bird comes to the northern parts of the British Isles in late spring to breed before flying back to Africa for the winter.
But changes to farming practices over the last 70 years meant numbers have gone down drastically. The RSPB list it as a red status species and confirmed records of the birds have been scant or non-existent on the Island in recent years.
Richard Sellman from the Department of Environment Food and Agriculture says he would love people to listen out of an evening to see if they can hear its distinctive call and get in contact if they believe they have . . .
If you do hear a corncrake - or think you have - you can get in contact with Richard at DEFA on 685 835
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