Black grouse decline
Black grouse numbers have declined dramatically, particularly over the past decade. If this continued, estimates suggest that black grouse would be extinct within 10-15 years.
Loss of habitat is a major factor
Black grouse in Wales, prefer woodland edge habitats, particularly where they adjoin heather moorland. Wet areas are important too, providing additional food for egg-laying females and young chicks. Much of these habitats have been lost with the maturing of forests, poorly managed moorland, and agricultural improvement.
The Welsh Black Grouse Recovery Project
Launched in 1997, it is a partnership between RSPB, the Forestry Commission and the Countryside Council for Wales, with substantial investment from European Union and National Assembly for Wales.
The project aims to stop the decline and, in the long term, increase the range and numbers, of black grouse in Wales.
The project identified 6 key areas, including Clocaenog, which supported 80% of the remaining black grouse population in 1997. Work has focused around the existing lekking sites, creating and enhancing habitats that black grouse require for feeding, egg laying and chick rearing.
A Success Story
From 1997 to 2002 black grouse numbers within the key areas have increased by 88%. However outside these areas, where grouse habitat is not being actively managed, the decline continues. This suggests that the habitat improvements implemented during the project period have been effective.
Black Grouse at Clocaenog
A 160ha corridor of suitable grouse habitat has been created running from the forest interior, through the forest edge and onto adjoining moorland.
Some of the work that has been undertaken:-
• Feathering forest edges and widening rides by removing 90% of the conifers to enhance grouse habitat and improve edge stability in wind.
• Maintaining and extending wet areas to encourage cotton grass and insect diversity.
Wet flushes are important feeding sites for hen black grouse and chicks.
• Removing mature conifers to restore heather moorland.
Replanting some clearfelled areas with a mixture of Scot’s Pine and broadleaves to provide winter food.
• Mowing mature heather to produce an uneven-aged sward and encourage regeneration of bilberry, heather, grasses and sedges.
• Keeping vegetation low at track edges to encourage lekking males.
Essential requirements for Black Grouse
• High protein food for pre-laying females in spring, eg cotton grass flowers
• Nearby woodland for shelter, food and cover from predators.
• Plenty of invertebrates for newly hatched chicks.
• A year-round supply of heather and bilberry shoots to provide food for adults and first year birds.
• Monitoring grouse populations by spring lek counts and late summer brood counts to assess the effectiveness of the management work. Chicks were also radio-tagged to find causes of mortality.
• Other birds and animals also benefit from the mosaic of habitats created, particularly the rare nightjar.
