Environment

Black Grouse threatened by summer rain

by mudricky | January 27, 2009 at 04:35 pm

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A bird on the UK's Red List of species of conservation concern, the Black Grouse, is in danger in Scotland because of our rainy summers.

Over the last few years the numbers of Black Grouse in Scotland have fallen by around 29 per cent, part of that problem is believed to be wet weather in many parts of the country, and this in turn has created a decline in chicks hatches.

Some believe it would be short-term population declines, depending if we gain some dry summers.

Black grouse chicks in the Scottish Highlands hatch in the second half of June and are known to be extremely vulnerable to the effects of wet, cold weather in the first two weeks after hatching.

In 1970 there were believed to be around 25,000 Black Grouse, by 2005 there were only 5,000.

THE survival of one of Scotland's iconic birds is under threat because of a wet summer.
The black grouse, on the UK's Red List of species of conservation concern, has seen its population fall from 25,000 in the 1970s to just 5,000 by 2005.

Changes in habitat and land use have been the main causes of long-term declines in the past.

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Karenke4

at 16:57 on January 27th, 2009

What about the wet summers have caused the population to die off I wonder? Sad to hear.

mudricky

at 17:10 on January 27th, 2009

Good point, I never told you why the wet weather has caused problems. =:-)

I added this: Over the last few years the numbers of black Grouse in Scotland have fallen by around 29 per cent, part of that problem is believed to be wet weather in many parts of the country, and this in turn has created a decline in chicks hatches.

Amy Judd

at 17:12 on January 27th, 2009

So people shooting them is ok still or is that going to be looked at too?

mudricky

at 17:26 on January 27th, 2009

Black Grouse hunting season in the UK is August 20 - December 10 but Scotland has nearly a full ban on hunting Black Grouse at the moment because of declines.

I will need to check it out but I do believe they are some days in the year when you can.