The Globally Threatened Corncrake Crex crex (Egypt)

Abstract

The Corncrake Crex crex is a globally threatened and vulnerable species due to a long-term and steep decline of its breeding numbers and range (BirdLife International 2000). It is listed in Appendix II of the Bonn Convention of the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, to which many countries are signatories including Egypt. The Corncrake's breeding range extends over much of northern and central Europe and east to Russia and central Siberia. It migrates south in autumn, especially through Egypt and Arabia, to winter in sub-Saharan Africa (Cramp and Simmons 1980). The recent estimate of total world population is between 1.6 and 3 million singing males (Bird Life International 2001). Corncrakes have been declining in Europe since the last century, with declines of 20-50 percent in many countries in the last 10 years (BirdLife International 2001).