(142) SUMMARY OF A REPORT ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS OF THE CORN-CRAKE (Crex crex)*

Transcription

1 (142) SUMMARY OF A REPORT ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS OF THE CORN-CRAKE (Crex crex)* BY C. A. NORMS. INTRODUCTION. IN the summers from 1933 to 1937 Corn-Crakes were present near Stratford-on-Avon, where they had not been heard since about In 1935 and 1936 they also re-established themselves in certain areas in Worcestershire. This suggested the possibility that the long decrease which was known to have occurred in many parts of England might have come to an end and it was decided early in 1938 to carry out a national inquiry under the auspices of the British Trust for Ornithology as to the past and present distribution and status of the species, and the probable causes of the decreases and fluctuations in numbers. Appeals for information were published in a large number of papers and a short talk was given in the wireless News Bulletin on July 14th, Questionnaires were also circulated with a number of ornithological journals. In 1939 a special effort was made to fill gaps in the information received in the previous year, to obtain additional information from certain critical areas and to get particulars from the Continent. In 1938, 1,180 questionnaires were filled up and returned and in addition over 800 letters and postcards were received. In 1939 a further 650 questionnaires and nearly 400 letters were received. This does not include the reports from abroad, but owing to the outbreak of war these were unfortunately few, though, as will be seen, they provide valuable information as to the position in several continental countries. The present report deals only with the past and present status and distribution of the Corn-Crake in the British Isles and its present status in parts, of western Europe. It was urged, especially by the late H. F. Witherby, that this information should be summarized and published before it became too much out-of-date. The organizer of the inquiry, having joined the army, had comparatively little time in which to compile a report, but with the help of his wife and W. B. Alexander a fairly complete survey of the literature of the subject was made and a report was completed before he left England. With his permission it has been revised and condensed for publication by W. B. Alexander. It is hoped that after the war a further report on aspects of the life-history of the Corn- Crake and a discussion of the causes of its decrease in numbers will be prepared by Major Norris. The accompanying map which was prepared by him for The Handbook gives a general view of the present status of the Corn- Crake in the British Isles. It divides the country into three areas, though it will be understood that the differences between the status *Publication of the British Trust for Ornithology.

2 VOL. XXXVIII] REPORT ON CORN-CRAKE. of the Corn-Crake m these areas are not in reality separated by hard and fast lines. In most of the northern and western Scottish islands and north-west Ireland the Corn-Crake is still numerous and there appears to have been little or no change of status beyond 143 Map to show Distribution of the Corn-Crake in the British Islands. (Compiled and Drawn by C. A. Norris). local fluctuations. In the greater part of Ireland, Scotland, northern and north-west England and most of Wales the Corn-Crake still occurs locally but has greatly decreased. From eastern, central and southern England and south-east Wales the Corn-Crake has

3 144 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXVIII. practically disappeared as a regular breeding species, though in most counties pairs or small colonies occasionally establish themselves and breed for a year or two. HISTORICAL. The earliest mention of the Corn-Crake in the British Isles is that of Turner (1544), who called it the Daker Hen and wrote : " I have not seen or heard it anywhere in England, save in Northumberland alone." In 1602 Carew said it was found in Cornwall and in 1603 Owen recorded that it bred in Pembrokeshire. In 1667 Merrett wrote that though Turner only knew of it in Northumberland " I remember to have seen and heard it at Wheatley five miles from Oxford "; whilst in 1677 Charleton wrote that it " has scarcely ever been observed by more recent observers " than Turner." In 1678 Ray wrote that it was " very common in Ireland but more rare with us " in England and in his Synopsis published in 1713 after his death he added : " Tancred Robinson tells us he has often found Land Rails in northern Yorkshire." In 1698 Martin stated that it bred at St. Kilda and in 1700 Leigh in his Natural History of Lancashire, Cheshire and the Peak said it was " common in these parts." The foregoing statements suggest that in the 16th and 17th centuries the Corn-Crake was very uncommon in the greater part of England south of Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire, but was much commoner in the north (and perhaps also in Wales), and very plentiful in Ireland. During the 18th century we have records that it was " pretty often met with " in fields in Northamptonshire (Morton, 1712), " very common in summer " in Co. Cork (Smith, 1750), " frequent in vale-meadows " in Northumberland (Wallis, 1769), abundant throughout Caithness (Pennant, 1771) and frequent in summer in Co. Dublin, though rare in England (Rutty, 1772).. In 1776 Pennant wrote that " they are in greatest plenty in Anglesea, where they appear about the 20th of April, supposed to pass over from Ireland, where they abound. They are found in most of the Hebrides and the Orkneys." In 1785 he added that they were found in summer in the Shetlands. Latham in the same year quoted Pennant's statements and added : " Few places in England are destitute of them in summer; but no where what may be called common." His contemporary Gilbert White states that at Selborne they were only occasionally met with in autumn, but adds: " Land-rails used to abound formerly, I remember, in the low wet bean fields of Christian Malford in North Wilts, and in the meadows near Paradise Gardens at Oxford." In 1794 Heysham recorded that they nested in Cumberland and Lambert that they bred in Wilts " and I believe everywhere in England." It is clear therefore that in the 18th century, their breeding range in England extended south to Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, though they were obviously local, and much less common than in Ireland, Scotland and Anglesey. In Sussex Markwick only knew of them as autumn visitors, giving the

4 VOL. XXXVIII] REPORT ON CORN-CRAKE. 145 average of 26 years' observation as: First seen Sept. 1; Last seen Oct. 20. Writers in the first half of the 19th century did not provide much additional information as to the status of the Corn-Crake. In 1806 Neill stated that it was " exceedingly abundant in Orkney, and also pretty common in Shetland." About 1814 Lamb wrote that in Berkshire it was " common in the summer and autumn," whilst in 1816 Polwhele said that in Cornwall it was " never abundant." In 1824 Latham wrote " nor is this bird at all plentiful in England, though in some parts much more so than in others." In 1826 Sheppard and Whitear wrote that it " occasionally breeds in Norfolk and Suffolk ; is most common in autumn, but is by no means abundant." In 1831 Rennie said; "I have never heard it in the vicinity of London, nor in Wiltshire, though it is said to be plentiful in the west of England "; but in 1834 Jesse said they were " far from being scarce " in the neighbourhood of Hampton Court. Remarks such as this may mean only that they were frequently shot by sportsmen in autumn, not that they nested in the vicinity. Hays in 1831 said they were " rather scarce in the neighbourhood " of Shepscombe, Glos. Selby wrote in 1833: " They are very plentiful throughout Wales, the north of England, and Scotland. In the Highlands of Scotland and the Hebrides, they also abound, and their migration extends to the Orkney and Shetland Isles." He also stated that " upon the banks of the Trent below Newark, the meadows are annually visited by great numbers ; and I have, in the course of an hour, killed 8 or 10 in a single field." This statement presumably refers to the autumn. In 1835 Jenyns wrote that the Corn-Crake " is pretty generally distributed throughout the kingdom, though said to be most plentiful in the northern parts of it, and in Ireland." Statements as to the status of the species during the last 100 years are quoted in the subsequent accounts of the former status in the various provinces. PRESENT DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. No attempt was made in the present inquiry to estimate the actual Corn-Crake population. Reports were grouped under 5 categories: A. None ; B. Isolated reports (i.e. ones and twos) ; C. A few (i.e. threes to sixes) ; D. Generally distributed; and E. Numerous. In the present summary reports under B and C have been treated together as " Few " whilst those under D and E have been treated together as " Numerous." Practically all reports refer to the number of birds heard and it has been assumed, in the light of available evidence, that it is the male bird that produces the once familiar call. The number of birds heard calling regularly has been assumed to indicate thenumber of breeding pairs. The fact that birds have not been heard in a district does not necessarily indicate that they are

5 146 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXVIII. completely- absent. A number of reports have been received of isolated pairs successfully rearing their young in the vicinity of houses and farms where no indication of their presence had been observed until the mowing of hay revealed, in one case, a nest and eggs, and in a number of cases a brood of young that must have been reared in the immediate vicinity. The instances reported have all referred to isolated birds remote from any district where the species is at all common. In preparing the following notes on distribution in the breeding season reports of birds seen after the second week in August have generally been omitted, as these may refer to migrants. 1. PENINSULA (Cornwall, Devon and Somerset). Former status. Carew included the Corn-Crake in his list of birds found in Cornwall in There is no evidence that it ever nested commonly in that county, where it was described as never abundant in 1816, of rare occurrence in 1856, never abundant in 1880 and not uncommon though somewhat local in In Devon it appears to have been numerous though fluctuating considerably in numbers throughout the nineteenth century, whilst in Somerset it was described in 1869 as a well known and fairly common summer visitant. Change of status. In Devon there appears to have been a general and widespread decrease from about 1900 onwards ; especially rapid before In Somerset the Corn-Crake was becoming scarce in some districts by 1906, whilst in Cornwall it appears to have remained fairly plentiful up to but a decrease has since occurred. Present status. A very scarce summer visitant in Somerset. Of the 23 returns for 1938 only 3 reported birds heard, though many of the other recorders had heard birds within the last few years. Only one was reported as heard in 1939 and no recent evidence of nesting was received. A scarce summer visitant in Devon, where out of 29 reports received in 1938 only 8 recorded the presence of the bird and these only isolated instances chiefly in the south, except on Lundy where Mr. F. *W. Gade reported 6 to 12 birds in 1938 but none in In Cornwall a few birds still nest annually in widely separated localities. In 1938 their presence was reported from 7 localities but in all these except Penzance they were said to have decreased within the last few years with a considerable drop in 1938 on the 1937 numbers. In Devon, the Corn-Crake is still fairly numerous on migration, especially in autumn, and in Somerset an uncommon passage migrant. 2. CHANNEL (Dorset, Wilts, Hants and Sussex). Former status. In 1788 the Corn-Crake was recorded as a summer bird of passage in fair numbers in Hampshire, but in the following year White called it a rare bird at Selborne, stating that it was more plentiful near Battle, in Sussex and formerly abounded near Christian Malford, N,' Wilts. In 1794 it was recorded as breeding near Heytesbury, Wilts. In 1855 it was said to be rarely found in Sussex in the breeding season, but in 1863 was considered common in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. In Wiltshire and Dorset the species was described as very common or plentiful throughout the 19th century. Change of status. In Dorset a decrease was noted before the end of the 19th century and by 1914 it was regarded as a vanishing species. In Wilts, decrease was noted in the early years of the present century and gradually intensified, though there was a reappearance about which did not continue. Marlborough College reports mention the finding of the nest in 20 years from 1865 to 1910 but not since. In Hampshire 1904 was a poor year, though the birds were again common throughout the county in 1905, but in 1907 none were met with. In 1914 it was very scarce but in 1917 some nests were found. In Sussex there was a slight decrease at the beginning of the 20th century, which became more marked by about Large numbers

6 VOL. XXXVIII] REPORT ON CORN-CRAKE. 147 were present in East Sussex in 1915 and it was again fairly numerous near Harling in 1926, but these were probably local fluctuations. Present status. In all these counties the Corn-Crake is now very rare as a summer visitor. In Dorset out of 16 records only 3 recorded birds in 1938 and only near Puddletown, where 6 were located, does breeding seem probable, Of 19 records from Wiltshire only 3 reported birds in 1938 and these were seen in autumn, two in August and one in September. In Hampshire out of a total of 36 reports, 27 were negative, though a number of these report birds as present in earlier years and a nest is recorded for In 1938 one nest with 3 chicks was destroyed in N.W. Hants and there are records of birds heard in the N.E., as well as one in the Isle of Wight. In Sussex 27 of the 1938 reports were negative, but 6 record isolated birds and one states that the Corn- Crake has been heard regularly near Bognor for the last 40 years. The species is met with as an autumn migrant near the coast in this region, being only scarce in Sussex, but sometimes common in the Isle of Wight (20 were shot at Shanklin in 1935) and regularly common in the Isle of Purbeck. In the autumn of were shot in one day on an estate 3 miles from Swanage, and in the years from 1932 to 1937 the average bag was over 10, varying from 5 to THAMES (Kent, Surrey, Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Berks,' Oxon and Bucks.). Former status. In 1667 Merrett stated that he had heard the Daker-hen (an old name for the species) at Wheatley, four miles from Oxford, and in 1783 the Corn-Crake was recorded as abundant in the meadows round Oxford. Writers during the 19th century recorded it as numerous, plentiful, common or not uncommon in all the counties of this province except Essex, where there is no evidence that it was ever common. Change of status. Decrease is said to have begun in Essex about 1850, about 1875 in Middlesex, 1885 in Oxon, 1895 in Kent, Berks and Bucks and 1900 in Surrey and Herts. Within a comparatively short period the bird became rare in most parts of all these counties, surviving longest in the water-meadows near the Thames. Present status. Out of about 150 reports from this area in 1938 only 17 recorded the occurrence of the Corn-Crake in that year. Only near Hatfield, Herts, was it fairly numerous and the only other pair suspected of breeding was near Amersham, Bucks, but no nests were reported. Records of nests in 1936 and in 1939 come from Kent. It is probable that a few pairs still breed sporadically in most of the counties. At Camb, near Newbury, Berks, no sound of the birds was heard either in 1938 or 1939, yet in both years they were seen during mowing. Corn-Crakes still occasionally occur on migration, chiefly in autumn, throughout the area. 4. ANGLIA (Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambs, Beds, Hunts and Northants.). Former status. Sir T. Browne recorded the Corn-Crake as a Norfolk bird in 1668 and Sheppard and Whitear said in 1826 that it occasionally bred in Norfolk and Suffolk, but there is no evidence that it was ever a common breeding species in either of those counties. In 1712 Morton said it was pretty often' met with in Northants. In the other counties of the area it is described by nineteenth century writers as common. Change of status. Decrease was noted in Norfolk about 1886, in Cambridgeshire about 1890 and in Bedfordshire about 1897 and the species had become rare throughout the area by about There is no definite record of breeding in Norfolk since Present status. In this province the species now only breeds occasionally. In 1938 one nest with eggs, destroyed at Towcester, Northants., was the only one reported, but near Grantchester, Cambs, several pairs were present and probably nested. Other reports were received of isolated birds heard in various localities. In 1939 Mr. G. R. Mountfort found 8 or 9 breeding pairs in the vicinity of Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk, where the species was almost u'nknown four years earlier.

7 148 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XXXVIII. The Corn-Crake passes through the area on migration, especially in autumn, when it is chiefly observed in Norfolk. 5. SEVERN (Glos, Mon, Hereford, Worcs, Warwick, Staffs, and Salop). Former status. The Corn-Crake is included in Dickenson's list of birds of Staffordshire, It appears to have been common throughout the area during the 19th century. Change of status. A decrease began in Worcestershire before the end of the century and in Warwickshire about In Staffordshire, Shropshire and Gloucestershire decrease began about 1911 or 1912, in Monmouthshire about 1914 and in Herefordshire about In most of these counties birds remained in certain areas, especially along the Severn and other river valleys, after they had disappeared from most districts and there are several instances of the re-occupation of areas for a few years after they had once been deserted. For instance at Stratford-on-Avon the Corn-Crake was common before.1914, decreased till 1920 and re-established itself in 1933, remaining till 1937 but again absent in Present status: Of I29reportsfor 1938 only 39 observers record the presence of the Corn-Crake in that year, but about half the others had heard it within a few years before. In Warwickshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire the only reports were of isolated birds, but in the other four counties it still occurs regularly in certain areas. In Monmouthshire in two areas near Cardiff ; and in the Wye Valley near Monmouth and Chepstow ; in Gloucestershire in the Forest of Dean and in the Severn valley near Tewkesbury; in Worcestershire in the Avon valley near Evesham and also near Stourbridge ; and in Staffordshire near Newcastle and in the Trent valley near Burton. In the last-named region the numbers are reported to be slowly decreasing, but at Stourbridge, Evesham and other localities in Worcestershire a considerable increase is said to have occurred in recent years. From this county 6 reports were also received in 1939 and in the 6 areas concerned the number of pairs was 23 in 1938 and 13 in TRENT (Lines, Rutland, Leics, Notts and Derbyshire). Former status. There is no evidence that the Corn-Crake was ever generally common in Lincolnshire, though in some localities it appeai-s to have been frequent at certain periods, for instance at Great Cotes from and again in In the other four counties of the area it was apparently common up to the first decade of the 20th century. Change, of status. In Lincolnshire decrease began about 1890 and by 1915 the species had almost disappeared from the county, though still occurring in a few localities. In Rutland decrease occurred before 1907 at which date, it still bred sparingly. In Leicestershire decrease began about 1915, in Derbyshire about 1917 and in Nottinghamshire about Present status. In Lincolnshire the species is now only a scarce passage migrant, noted in two localities in Probably the same is true of Rutland from which no information was received. In Leicestershire the only report of its occurrence came from Charnwood Forest, where it is said to have been common till 1928, but 5 other observers had heard birds within the previous five years. In Nottinghamshire the species is now absent from many districts where it was formerly common, but still occurs in some numbers near Mansfield and near Worksop, in both which areas it is stated to have increased recently. In Derbyshire the Corn-Crake is still to be found in many parts but is nowhere plentiful and would seem to be rapidly decreasing. Of those who reported in 1938 five had last heard the bird in 1936 and nine in I* 1 9 areas from which reports were received both in 1938 and 1939 there had been a decrease of nearly 45% in the latter year. (To be concluded).