The Corncrake Crex crex is a globally threatened species, classified as Vulnerable at both world and European level due to the long-term and very steep decline of the species across its range. It is listed on Annex I of the EU Wild Birds Directive and Appendix II of the Bern Convention. The Corncrake's breeding range extends over much of northern and central Europe and into Asia. It migrates in autumn to the sub-Saharan Africa. Corncrakes can be found because of their typical kraerk, kraerk. They breed in open or semi-open landscapes, mainly in meadows of tall grass. They conceal themselves in tall ground vegetation. Main threats are the mechanisation and earlier dates of mowing, the loss of hay meadows and wetlands. The Green Belt provides large areas of extensively used grassland, so the Corncrake can be found in several areas in the former border region like Altmark/Rhön (Germany), Sumava (Czech Republic), Lower Austria, Hánsag (Hungary), Julian Alps (Slovenia), Drava and Danube Floodplain (Croatia) and Balkan Mountains (Bulgaria).