A major scientific break-through by scientists from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust on the fringes of moorland in the Yorkshire Dales has resulted in the birth of a new group of 13 rare male black grouse, after an absence of more than two decades.
Earlier this year it was reported that the black grouse population in northern England had plummeted by more than 50 per cent, so this news is of huge significance in the battle to save this iconic species.
But these seriously endangered birds have not arrived at this former haunt by accident but are the result of a ground-breaking three-year translocation trial, carried out by the Trust’s scientists and generously funded by SITA Trust*. This is the first time that this particular technique has been attempted on black grouse and its success is a massive boost for black grouse recovery in this country.
A specific problem limiting their recovery is that male black grouse are reluctant to travel away from their birth site to set up new territories, unlike the females who are happy to inhabit new areas at the fringe of their range. Therefore to encourage range expansion the Trust commenced a trial in 2006 which involved moving wild black grouse males caught at night on donor moors in the core of their range and releasing them the same evening at specially prepared recipient sites on the southern fringe of their range.
Release sites were carefully chosen to ensure that conditions were suitable to support the donor birds. Specifically black grouse need a mosaic of rough grassland habitats adjoining heather moorland managed for red grouse, as well as areas where gamekeepers are employed to control predators such as crows, foxes, and stoats that might kill the birds and eat their eggs. Sites were also close enough to existing black grouse populations to attract dispersing females to settle and breed with the stay at home males.
Between 2006 and 2009, 24 males were released at two release sites, all of which were equipped with radio transmitters so that scientists from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust could monitor movements, survival and display (lekking) behaviour. In spring 2010, five males were observed lekking in the vicinity of both release sites. But following an excellent breeding year, thirteen males and a mixed sex flock of thirty birds have now been seen at one of the areas.
Dr Phil Warren, from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is jubilant about this result and said, "This is absolutely fantastic news and is the most positive thing that’s happened to black grouse for years on both a regional and national level. Restoring any declining species is notoriously difficult and here we have demonstrated that through artificially moving wild males we can establish new populations that breed and prosper."
With this triumph under their belt, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is now looking to emulate this success in other suitable areas. Phil Warren said, "In order to build on this success we are currently raising £50,000 to fund a new three-year project in the fringes of grouse moors in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This new project will help us to hit our ambitious Biodiversity Action Plan targets of species range expansion because their long-term future depends hugely on both improving breeding success as well as expanding their range."
