Kwartelkoningen in Nederland in 2005.

After a population recovery in 1997, efforts to protect Corncrakes in the Netherlands have increased recently. Since 2001, a national conservation scheme is carried out by Vogelbescherming Nederland (BirdLife The Netherlands), SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland (Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology), the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Quality and several local governmenmental bodies and various nature conservation agencies. Fieldwork is mainly carried by more than 150 volunteer birdwatchers. These participate in two simultaneous national censuses (end of May and end of June) and check many of the key breeding sites (Fig. 1) during the rest of the season. Conservation action focuses on delay of mowing dates until 1 August or later and promotion of