Despite my ornithological interests, I never got round to checking out this thread.

Some years ago, I was involved in the early stages of a project to preserve (in the sense of conserve!) corncrakes. The corncrake is a rather nondescript bird also known as the "land rail". Anyway, I discovered that Mrs. Beaton, the famous Victorian cook, included a recipe for same in her well-known cook book!She reckoned you needed four per portion. I suggested that if the project was successful we could start a whole new line in fast food, with corncrake kebabs etc.!

Regards

p.s. are "trumpeter swans" what we call "whoopers"?
p.p.s.The corncrake, which has the dullest "song" ever uttered by a bird (it sounds like the "engaged" tone heard down the line on a phone - at least in Ireland/Britain!). turns up in a surprising number of traditional songs.