Nettles helping Corncrake bounce back on Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island's population of Corncrakes is being supported by an annual nettle dig, the RSPB has explained.

In 2014, the Giving Corncrake a Home Project encouraged the Red-listed crake to return to the island and, since then, up to five have been recorded holding territory, with at least two pairs logged in 2019 for the first time in three decades.

The project's work, which is conducted during the winter months, harnesses the help of farmers, landowners and volunteers to provide tall vegetation for Corncrakes to hide in.

Corncrake numbers are slowly recovering on Rathlin Island (Nándor Veres-Szászka).

Nettles for crakes

Anne Guichard, RSPB conservation officer, explained: "We dig nettle roots which we call rhizome, we wash them and then we bring them onto Rathlin Island. Corncrakes love nettles because it is a plant which grows quite early in the season.

"When they come back from migration in April, the grass will be very short so the nettle bed we will have built around the field margin will have grown enough for them to hide when waiting for the grass in the middle to grow."

Once the nettle roots are picked they are washed by a pressure-washer to remove any unwanted seeds or invertebrates. Soil is also removed during the wash which makes the roots lighter to transport. In 2024, the RSPB covered some 647 sq km of Rathlin Island with nettle rhizomes.

Volunteer effort

During the winter months of 2024-25, the RSPB and its volunteers have gathered some 14 tonnes of bags of nettle rhizomes.

Last year, ongoing efforts to eradicated rats and ferrets from Rathlin Island were ramped up, with 6,000 bait stations to be laid in an effort to safeguard breeding seabirds.