This is a video of a corncrake, including its call.
From the Dutch ornithologists of SOVON:
Good year for the corncrake
Halfway in June, already almost 150 calling corncrakes had been spotted in our country. For a time it looked as if this species after the big numbers in 2003 was on its way down. However, this season already at the end of April the first calling males had been heard (usually, in early May). The biggest numbers now are in the fields of the Oldambt in Groningen province, and in meadows along the IJssel and Zwarte Water rivers around Zwolle.
A video on radio transmitters on corncrakes for research is here.
More about corncrakes in the Netherlands is here.
Corncrakes in England: here. And: Corncrake found in Manchester car park: here.
UK: Corncrakes suffer severe decline after grant reforms for farmers: here.
2009: UK corncrake numbers looking good – Please help the survey: here.
Scottish corncrakes under threat from EU agricultural policy: here.
Dear Kitty. Some blog 
Scherre Vlaamse volksnaam voor de Kwartelkoning Ý. Scherre maakt ook deel uit van langere namen als de ss.en Bremscharre Ý en Hegh-scherre Ý. De vlaamse industrieel Gaston Gevaert (leefde 1929 te Oudenaarde (OVl)) beschreef de soort in een gedicht onder de naam van het lemma:
Pinkelt, winkelt, zuidersterre;
Steekt de hemel zwart van terre,
Steekt hij laai van lichten vol,
Zingen doet de scherre.
Grolt de wind in beuk en sperre
Slaat hij bosschen in de werre,
Krijscht en kraakt hij razenddol,
Zingen doet de scherre.
Slaat de bliksem man en kerre,
Smijt hij kerk en kot omverre,
Slaan de beken overboord,
Zingen doet de scherre.
Droog of nat, de schuwe scherre,
Dag en nacht en dicht en verre,
Onverpoosd en onverstoord,
Zingen doet de scherre.
[G Gevaert 1929 in: Tack 2004]
LikeLike
Rare bird population on the rise
20 Oct 10
Conservationists in Scotland are reporting the first increase in the population of corncrakes, one of Britain’s rarest birds, in three years.
Once found across the UK, the population of the elusive farmland birds has been falling since the early 20th century and they are now largely confined to Scotland.
A conservation programme introduced in 1993 to stem the decline helped nearly treble the number of corncrakes, a species that migrates to Scotland from sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2007, wildlife experts recorded 1,200 male singing corncrakes. Over the next two years the numbers fell slightly, but rose again in 2010 to 1,193 male birds, wildlife charity RSPB Scotland said.
The survey records only the population of male birds since the females are so quiet and elusive they are extremely difficult to spot.
Conservation efforts are being led by RSPB Scotland in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Government, farmers and crofters.
The schemes offer financial support to farmers and crofters to manage land in a way that is sympathetic to corncrakes.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
http://www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/ (RSPB Scotland)
LikeLike
Pingback: Peregrine falcons become night birds because of street lights | Dear Kitty. Some blog
Pingback: Dutch corncrake news | Dear Kitty. Some blog