The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has revealed a significant decline in capercaillie numbers in Scotland, with as few as 304 birds remaining in 2020. This iconic bird, once widespread across Scotland, is now heading towards extinction unless further measures are taken.
“Declines are associated with a reduction in breeding success, which varies annually in relation to poor weather in June when chicks are growing and increased signs of predators such as pine marten in recent decades,” said Dr David Baines, Head of Uplands Research at GWCT.
The 10-year-long GWCT study showed that numbers declined by 48%, with the biggest decline in the last five years of the study. The study also found that, while efforts to improve habitat and legally control foxes and crows have been made, breeding success has fallen from 1.24 chicks per female to 0.05 across five forests in Badenoch & Strathspey.
Dr Baines continued: “Given the importance of low breeding success in the current decline and the variety of changing factors that influence annual success, the Trust firmly recommends that the previously comprehensive programme of brood monitoring should be restored to provide more robust estimates of productivity.”
The research also indicated that Badenoch & Strathspey, in the Cairngorms, is now where 83% of the remaining males reside, making conservation action in the area a priority to prevent extinction of the species in the UK.
With regards to bird collisions with deer fences, GWCT research proved that by marking fences, bird collisions can be reduced but not prevented. Dr Baines added: “By 2020, the risk of capercaillie extinction in Scotland was 23% after 25 years, 95% after 50 years and 100% after 100 years. When we removed deaths caused by fences from our analyses, the likelihood of extinction went right down to 0% after 25 years, 3% after 50 and 40% after 100 years, highlighting that fence removal must be an immediate and high priority to help save the capercaillie.”
The research was funded by the G & K Boyes Charitable Trust, which supports charitable organisations with a focus on education, training, advancement of health or saving lives, arts, culture, heritage, science, environment and conservation.
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has revealed that capercaillie numbers in Scotland have nearly halved in 10 years, with only 304 birds remaining in 2020. This iconic bird, once widespread across Scotland, is now facing extinction unless further conservation measures are taken.
Dr David Baines, Head of Uplands Research at GWCT, commented: “Declines are associated with a reduction in breeding success, which varies annually in relation to poor weather in June when chicks are growing and increased signs of predators such as pine marten in recent decades. This has happened despite efforts by land managers to improve habitat, and legally control foxes and crows.”
GWCT’s 10-year-long study found that the biggest decline in capercaillie numbers occurred in the last five years, with breeding success falling from 1.24 chicks per female to 0.05 across five forests in Badenoch & Strathspey. The research also highlighted the urgent need for conservation action in the Cairngorms, where 83% of the remaining males reside.
Dr Baines added: “Given the importance of low breeding success in the current decline and the variety of changing factors that influence annual success, the Trust firmly recommends that the previously comprehensive programme of brood monitoring should be restored to provide more robust estimates of productivity.”
The study also looked into bird collisions with deer fences, with Dr Baines noting: “By 2020, the risk of capercaillie extinction in Scotland was 23% after 25 years, 95% after 50 years and 100% after 100 years. When we removed deaths caused by fences from our analyses, the likelihood of extinction went right down to 0% after 25 years, 3% after 50 and 40% after 100 years, highlighting that fence removal must be an immediate and high priority to help save the capercaillie.”
The research was funded by the G & K Boyes Charitable Trust, which supports charitable organisations with a focus on education, training, advancement of health or saving lives, arts, culture, heritage, science, environment and conservation.
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