Corncrake: Red Data Book of Armenia

Rails - Rallidae

Status. A vulnerable species. Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 3.1) as Near Threatened NT. According to IUCN criteria categorized as Vulnerable VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).

Distribution. Distributed from Western Europe to Western Siberia.

Distribution in Armenia. Occurs in the country’s north.

Habitats. Nestles in mountain meadows and meadow–grasslands. Habitats have been intensively encroached for agricultural use.

Biological traits. Eggs are laid once a year, 8–12/clutch. Eggs are laid anew if the first clutch is lost.

Population size and its trends. Available information is insufficient to judge about the population size. In 2009, one individual was kept at the Kharkov Zoo.

Major threats. The population has been affected by agricultural chore during the nesting season, as well as by disturbance ensuing from livestock grazing (which also poses direct threat from shepherd dogs) and plant gatherers. Poaching is also possible within the officially open season.

Conservation measures. It is essential to include this species to the plan of biodiversity monitoring, reconsider the land use policy in the species occurrence sites, establish temporary safety zones or sanctuaries, increase the rates of fines and to raise public awareness.