| UPLANDS - BLACK GROUSE IN SCOTLAND
Increasing forest cover threatens black grouse Within a forest/moorland landscape it is important to retain sufficient moorland and rough grazing habitats for lekking and breeding. © Nancy Parsons/GWCT
BACKGROUND Black grouse were once widespread in the UK but following an 80% decline in numbers over the past 25 years they are now red-listed as a species of high conservation concern. In 2005, 5,100 males remained, two-thirds of which were found in Scotland. Increasing forest cover in southern Scotland could threaten the remaining black grouse populations.
The black grouse was once a common and widely distributed bird in southern Scotland. However, numbers and range have declined. This has accelerated in recent years, with 49% and 69% declines in the south-west and south-east of Scotland respectively, between national surveys in 1995/96 and 2005. Estimates of remaining males for the two regions in 2005 were 807 and 257. This has resulted in southern Scotland being identified as a priority area for conservation action for the species. Black grouse frequent a mixture of moorland, moorland fringe, young coniferous forest and broadleaved forest habitats, with birds using a range of these habitats within a one-kilometre (km) radius of the focal display site, known as a lek. In suitable continuous habitats, these leks typically occur at intervals of 2-3km, allowing females to disperse between them. We know from recent studies in north Perthshire that retaining enough heather moorland habitat within a forest-moorland landscape is important, as this provides key habitats for lekking and breeding. In Scotland, Government policy aims to increase forest cover from 18% to 25% by 2050 and remaining moorland habitats may be under increasing threat of afforestation. New woodland planting in the short term may provide favourable conditions prior to canopy closure, but in the longer term it is predicted to further impact on remaining populations by reducing and fragmenting remaining moorland. To help inform black grouse conservation programmes in southern
Planting of new forests of Sitka spruce in the short-term can provide suitable conditions for black grouse, but birds are quickly displaced following canopy closure after 10-12 years. © Laurie Campbell
22 | GAME & WILDLIFE REVIEW 2020
www.gwct.org.uk
