Scotland could lose the capercaillie… again
Capercaillie are heading for a “second extinction” in Scotland’s forests, land managers have warned after recording a sharp drop in the number of males.
They disclosed that only 153 male birds were recorded this summer at leks, the areas where they compete for mates, 15 fewer than last year.
If this continued, they warned that numbers would drop by 43 per cent by the time the next national survey of the bird’s population is conducted in 2027/28.
This would be on top of a 50 per cent decline recorded in the most recent survey, they said, prompting them to warn the capercaillie could be entering its “final phase” in the country’s forests.
‘Last remaining hope’
The land managers argued that public pressure on the authorities could be “the last remaining hope” the birds have of remaining viable as a breeding species.
A new emergency action plan for the species is due to be published shortly by the Scottish Government’s nature advisers, NatureScot, and the Cairngorms national park.
But they warned that experts in a group set up to save the capercaillie did not believe the plan addresses the threat to eggs and chicks from common and protected predators.
They claimed foxes and crows, which can legally be controlled, are damaging breeding success, along with rising populations of protected pine marten, badgers and goshawks.
‘Horse of the woods’
The capercaillie is the largest member of the game bird family. The bird, whose Gaelic name means “horse of the woods”, was reintroduced to Scotland in 1837 after becoming extinct the previous century.
More than 80 per cent live and breed in pinewoods in the Cairngorms national park. However, a steep decline in recent years has seen the iconic bird included on the red list of species of highest conservation concern.
According to the latest survey, conducted in 2021/22, there are now only 542 left in Scotland. However, the number of males had increased by 19 to 168.
‘The numbers don’t lie’
A source in the expert group, who is a member of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, said: “We’ve witnessed this dramatic decline with our own eyes and feel compelled to inform the public of the current situation.
“Sadly, everything we said in the past has been borne out in the recent counts. The numbers don’t lie. The last chance, therefore, is for the public to know the facts, with no spin.”
They added: “Maybe it is only through the public knowing what is happening, and asking questions, that we can save the capercaillie. That is all we want; that people know the truth.”
An official assessment by a NatureScot committee warned in Feb 2022 that the bird was likely to become extinct again in the UK within two to three decades if the trend in population decline continued.
Survival of eggs and young chicks
It said that “renewed intensive measures” are needed if the population is to be conserved, focusing on options that will improve the survival of eggs and young chicks.
The report warned that any delay in enacting these “might result in the population declining to a point where extinction becomes inevitable.”
Measures proposed included “diversionary feeding” of predators, which would involve offering them alternative food during the breeding season.
‘Extremely vulnerable’
Chris Donald, NatureScot’s head of operations for central Highlands, said: “There’s no doubt that the capercaillie population in Scotland is extremely vulnerable, and that the future of the species is at risk.
“Recent research by the University of Aberdeen demonstrates that diversionary feeding is another effective option to support capercaillie conservation.
“Along with our partners in the Cairngorms national park authority, we will shortly be publishing a capercaillie emergency plan, which will set out urgent additional measures to help save this iconic species.”