Could introduction of overseas birds boost chances of saving Scotland's dwindling Capercaillie population?

                                                        

The Capercaillie  Emergency Plan  - a document is full of encouraging proposals 

COULD introducing Capercaillie from other parts of Europe help save (and even increase) the tiny population in Scotland?

This is one of the options under scrutiny by NatureScot and partner organisations such as The Cairngorms National Park Authority and the Scottish Government who have drawn up a five-year  Emergency Plan aimed at securing a future for a species which has dwindled to an estimated 532 birds only.

However, 'population reinforcement' would only proceed if a proposed feasibility concludes that the potential benefits are likely  to outweigh the risks.

 

Along with numerous other threats,  Scottish Capercaillie suffer from lack of genetic diversity.

DNA samples have revealed it to be less than that of corresponding populations in Austria, Germany, Norway, Poland and Sweden - the so-called  'northern lineage',

As well as reinforcement with overseas stock, translocation of birds between 30 landholdings within at least six  areas, including the RSPB reserve at Abernethy, could be on the cards.

However, even if the feasibility study recommends these actions, it is unlikely they would be implemented before 2030 by which time, touch wood, other conservation initiatives may have may already have borne fruit.

The emergency plan also explores other threats to Capercaillie including:

* Predation of eggs and young -  for instance, by pine martens (also a protected species), foxes and  crows

* Diminished or degraded habitat

* Human disturbance - for instance by mountain-bikers, dogs off leads and  birders and photographers looking for Capercaillie during the breeding season 

* Disease

* Climate change

The total cost between 2025 and 2030 of carrying out the various proposals listed in the Emergency Plan would be staggering - almost £13-million (with £40,000 of that earmarked for the 'reinforcement'  feasibility study).  

The following 'stakeholders' will be kept up to speed on the various initiatives:

* Aberdeenshire Trail Association 

* Abergeldie Estate 

* Aigas Field Centre (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Anagach Woods Trust 

* Aquila Wildlife and Nature CIC (Lek It Be Champion)

* Arc Guiding (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Atholl Estate 

* Badaguish Outdoor Centre 

* Baddengorm Wood 

* Badenoch and Strathspey Trail Association 

* Ballogie Estate 

* Balmoral Estate 

* BASC Scotland 

* BirdGuides 

* Birding Ecosse (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Birding Ecotours (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Bird’s Wildlife & Nature (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Birdwatching and Wildlife Club (Lek It Be Champion)

* Birdwatching Trips (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Birse Community Trust 

* Cairngorms Birding (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Cairngorms Business Partnership 

* Cairngorms National Park Authority 

* Cairngorms Runners 

* Carrbridge Capercaillie Group 

* Cawdor Estate 

* CONFOR 

* Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland 

* Dorback Estate 

* Dunecht Estates 

* East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership 

* Finzean Estate 

* Forestry and Land Scotland 

* Fountains Forestry 

* Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust 

* Glenmore Lodge 

* Glenmuick Estate 

* Glen Tanar Estate 

* Highland Quietlife (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Highland Wildlife (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Invercauld Estate 

* Instinct (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Llagganlia Outdoor Centre 

* Mar Estate 

* Mar Lodge Estate 

* Moray Estates 

* Mountaineering Scotland 

* Naturalist Journeys (Lek It Be Champion) 

* NatureScot 

* NatureTrek (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Norfolk Birding (Lek It Be Champion) 

* North East Adventure Tourism 

* Oriole Birding (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Police Scotland 

* Ramblers Scotland 

* Rare Bird Alert 

* Rothiemurchus 

* RSPB 

* Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) 

* Scot Mountain Holidays (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Scottish Capercaillie Group 

* Scottish Forestry 

* Scottish Gamekeepers' Association 

* Scottish Ornithologists' Club 

* Scottish Orienteering Association 

* Scottish Woodlands 

* Scotways 

* Seafield and Strathspey Estates 

* Speyside Wildlife (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Tombain Wood 

* Tulchan Estate 

* University of Aberdeen 

* University of Glasgow 

* University of St Andrews 

* Wildland Limited 

* Wild Discovery (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Wild Scotland 

* Wings Birding Tours (Lek It Be Champion) 

* Woodlands For Sale 

* Volunteer Cairngorms  

Says Eileen Stuart, NatureScot’s Deputy Director of Nature and Climate Change: "This is the most comprehensive plan of its kind ever produced for this iconic bird.

"With such low numbers, the species is predicted to become extinct in the next 20 to 30 years unless more action is taken at scale and on all fronts. 

"The plan's proposal will do just that.

"They are the result of intensive work with over 100 stakeholders who are all committed to safeguarding the future of Capercaillie."