The Cornish Chough population has grown by more than 100 birds for the second year running. In a new chapter for this remarkable conservation success story, a record 55 pairs (11 of which were new pairs) made a breeding attempt this summer, up from the previous high of 47 last year. Not all breeding attempts were successful, as the poor spring weather hampered inexperienced pairs. However, this record-breaking number illustrates the success of more than 20 years of conservation efforts to restore Cornwall’s national bird to a healthy and sustainable population.

Of the confirmed pairs, 40 successfully raised a brood, with 108 chicks known to have fledged; just four fewer than last year’s total.

• 2022 – 25 successful pairs, raising 71 young
• 2023 – 39 successful pairs, raising 112 young
• 2024 – 40 successful pairs, raising 108 young

It’s likely that the wet weather over the winter and early spring made it difficult for birds as they started to breed at the end of March. But after this highly successful breeding season there are probably now well over 300 Chough in Cornwall, spread between Roseland and the Camel. Not all of this year’s young will survive to adulthood and raise families of their own, but the higher the number of fledglings that survive each year, the more robust the birds become against extinction in the future.

However, as the population grows it becomes harder for  volunteers who monitor the Choughs’ breeding success to keep up. So, anyone eager to help out with the conservation effort in 2025 is urged to make contact, particularly on the north coast, from the Camel Estuary to Bude, where prime habitat for Choughs is expected to attract more and more breeding pairs in the coming years. If you’d like to volunteer, or just have Chough records to submit, please email choughs@cbwps.org.uk or look online at bit.ly/ChoughVols