THE Cornish Chough population has grown by more than 100 birds for the second year running.

A record 55 pairs made an attempt at breeding this summer, up from the previous high of 47 last year.

Not all breeding attempts were successful, as the poor springtime weather hampered inexperienced pairs.

But the RSPB believes the 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 ‘Choughlets’ known to have fledged from nests around the Kernow coastline. This is just four fewer than last year’s total.

There were 25 successful pairs, raising 71 young in 2022, 39 successful pairs, raising 112 young in 2023 and 40 successful pairs, raising 108 young in 2024.

Hilary Mitchell, from Cornwall Birds, said: “It's been another amazing year for our Chough. Lots of people got in touch through to share their Chough sightings and so many of them were overjoyed to have found their first Cornish Chough, which was just fantastic.

“These sightings were incredibly helpful and allowed volunteers to locate a record 11 new pairs in 2024.

“It's likely that the horrible wet weather we suffered over the winter and early spring made it difficult for the Chough as they started to breed at the end of March. Our hardy birds carried on despite the rain and still fledged over 100 chicks, an impressive result.

“After this highly successful breeding season there's probably well over 300 Chough in Cornwall, so there's a good chance of seeing one if you are out on the coast anywhere from Roseland round to the Camel.

“Because our Chough are recolonising new areas, please do email to tell me where you've seen these special birds and you never know – you might have found a new pair in a new place.”

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 the band of willing volunteers who monitor the Choughs’ breeding success each year to keep up. So, anyone eager to help out with the conservation effort in 2025 is urged to make contact.

Andrew Jones, Chough Conservation Officer for the RSPB in Cornwall, said:“We’re particularly keen to hear from potential volunteers 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.

“But wherever you’re based in Cornwall, if you’d like to join us in protecting these beautiful, characterful birds, we’d love to hear from you.”

Choughs were extinct in Cornwall 50 years ago and it has taken decades of close partnership work to reach the current positive position.

The conservation expertise of the RSPB, the passion of Cornish nature-friendly farmers and land managers who have brought back grazing to the cliffs, vital funding for this land management from Natural England, the coordination and cooperation of conservation organisations like National Trust, and the dedication of volunteers who monitor the birds, plus those who report the valuable sightings to Cornish Birds, have all combined to make this a conservation success story.

Lydia Allt, Volunteering and Community Officer for the Lizard and Penrose National Trust, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another year of this successful nature conservation story in Cornwall, with Chough numbers continuing to go from strength to strength. Our thanks goes to a wonderful team of dedicated volunteers who give their time to monitoring Choughs. With their help, we have been able to build an accurate picture as the population grows in number and range.”