Trivia question for Jan-31-2011

In an effort to find a species with less controversy around it, Olivia decided on this little bird for today’s trivia.

This bird derives its name from its monotonous two-syllable call.  They undertake two long migrations each year and some are blown off course and have turned up in Greenland, Newfoundland, Bermuda, Australia and the U.S.

These birds are classified as “Rare” by the IUCN.  One of their two main threats is loss of habitat.  So here’s our questions:  Can you tell us what this bird is called and also tell us what the second threat is to their current survival?

Good Luck 😉

Answer:

Wow, Olivia did a great job with choosing this little bird for her trivia.  The bird we featured is known as the Corn Crake.

The Corn Crake, or landrail is a small bird in the family Rallidae. Its breeding habitat is not marshes as with most crakes, but, as the name implies, meadows and arable farmland.

It breeds across Europe and western Asia, migrating to Africa in winter. It is in steep decline across most of its range because modern farming practices mean that nests and birds are destroyed by mowing or harvesting before breeding is finished.

The best place to look for or listen for them in the UK is in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. In Ireland, the best place to hear the birds is the island of Inishbofin, Galway, off the coast of County Galway. In 2008 a decline of about 8% in the number of “calling males” was noticed.

Here is more information on these small birds: Corn Crake

Thanks for playing along 😉