Early signs are that Scottish rewilding project is boosting population of black grouse in The Highlands

 

Male black grouse - a bird with very specific habitat requirements

AN encouraging report seems to indicate that a rewilding project in the Scottish Highlands is reaping early dividends for the black grouse.

The project is a venture by rewilding organisation Affric Highlands with encouragement from RSPB Scotland, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and certain landowners.   

The black grouse is a spectacular bird found across northern Europe in mosaic habitats where areas of woodland, moorland, and grassland meet.

Mature commercial forestry plantations, with their closed canopy, are  unsuitable for the species.

"Our initial findings are a cause for optimism," says Nicola Williamson, a field officer with the Affric Highlands rewilding team. 

"Restoring the health of a mosaic of habitats appears to be offering much-needed hope for the black grouse - and for nature more broadly."

Between April and May this year, 14 sites in the Beauly area of the Affric Highlands rewilding landscape were assessed by groups of trained volunteers, each studying plots covering five square kilometres.

These surveys recorded 405 lekking males -  a slight increase since the last survey in 2021, and the highest recorded over the past 17 years. 

The same survey sites have been monitored in previous years, using  the same methodology. 

In 2007, 250 lekking males were counted. 

With black grouse numbers fluctuating over time, and historic data lacking for some years, future surveys carried out as part of the study will confirm whether this overall rise is steady.

Rewilding  has involved excluding herbivores, such as deer, to reduce overgrazing and over-browsing.

This has allowed habitats to recover through the growth of healthy shrub layers and young trees. 

Simon McLaughlin, who is  RSPB site manager at the Corrimony and Glenborrodale Nature Reserves, comments: "The support from local volunteers, estates, and other organisations this year has inspired optimism that these birds will be well looked after in the coming years.

"We hope to see even more of this community involvement  as we continue collaborative efforts to safeguard this remarkable species."

Among those funding the project are  the Ecological Restoration Fund, the Dutch Postcode Lottery, WWF-Netherlands, and Arcadia.

The last UK-wide survey of black grouse was way back in 2005.

This estimated the  population to be 5,100 males - with 3,400 in Scotland, 1,500 in England, and 200 in Wales.