Headlines:Capercaillie Population in Scotland Declines by Nearly Half in 10 Years
SCOTLAND, September 7, 2023 — New research conducted by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has revealed alarming trends in the capercaillie population in Scotland. According to the study, capercaillie numbers in Scotland have significantly declined over the past decade, with as few as 304 birds remaining in 2020, compared to 580 in 2010. This decline paints a grim picture for the iconic bird's survival, suggesting that it is now on the brink of extinction.
Once widespread across Scotland, the capercaillie faced extinction in the 1780s. However, efforts to reintroduce the species in the 1830s have confined it to old pine forests in the Scottish Highlands, primarily within the Cairngorms National Park. Despite these conservation efforts, the capercaillie population has continued to dwindle.
In the 1970s, approximately 20,000 capercaillie existed in Scotland. Still, over the years, their numbers have seen a steady decline despite various conservation initiatives. When transect-based national surveys were first conducted between 1992 and 1994, they estimated around 2,200 capercaillie in Scotland. By 1999, this number had plummeted to 1,073.
The GWCT study, conducted over ten years, unveiled a staggering 48% decline in capercaillie numbers. The most substantial drop occurred in the last five years of the study. Dr. David Baines, Head of Uplands Research at GWCT, attributed the declines to reduced breeding success, influenced by factors such as unfavorable weather conditions during chick growth and the increased presence of predators like pine martens.
Dr. Baines emphasized the need for immediate action to save the capercaillie from extinction. He recommended stepped-up conservation measures, including legal predator control, mitigating predation risk by pine martens, and reducing bird collisions with deer fences.
To gather more accurate population estimates and long-term trends, GWCT scientists combined annual counts of males at spring leks and counts of adults and their young in August. These findings revealed that breeding success dropped significantly from 1.24 chicks per female in 2010 to 0.05 across five forests in Badenoch & Strathspey by 2020.
The study underscored the importance of focusing conservation efforts on the Cairngorms, specifically in Badenoch & Strathspey, where 83% of the remaining male capercaillie reside. Urgent action in this area is crucial to prevent the species from disappearing entirely from the UK.
One concerning aspect of the research was the impact of collisions with deer fences on capercaillie and black grouse. These fences, designed to protect woodlands from deer, often harm or kill capercaillie when they collide with them. While marking fences can reduce collisions, many dangerous, unmarked fences still exist. The study stressed the immediate need for fence removal to ensure the capercaillie's survival.
The research, funded by the G & K Boyes Charitable Trust, highlights the critical situation facing the capercaillie in Scotland. Urgent and comprehensive conservation efforts are necessary to prevent the extinction of this iconic bird.
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