While summer vacationing in Europe Corncrakes visit Ireland, Sweden, Holland, Scotland, Slovenia, Italy, Finland, Belgium, The Baltic Nations, The Steppes of Russia and even parts of Asia and The Middle East, but there have been numerous sightings of "Accidental Tourists" in Maryland and Nova Scotia. A cleverly designed camouflage, of stripes on a biscuit brown plumage, equally effective in Europe and Africa, ensures uninterrupted feeding on worms, insects and of course corn, oats and barley, and the hatching and care of up to four chicks. Corncrakes are rarely seen in flight, but when migrating to Central Africa in autumn, exhausted birds have been observed hitching a ride on fishing boats and cruise ships; conserving their strength for the arduous and dangerous journey across continental Africa. In the North African countries bordering the Mediterranean they are considered an exotic dish in an otherwise bland diet and during the Vernal and Autumnal migrations many local hunters and trappers take full advantage of a migratory pit stop to restock their larders, thus causing further depletion in numbers of the already hard-pressed birds.
