Just got this via e-mail....see you at World's End in a few weeks.....
A project set up 10 years ago to champion the plight of black grouse has managed to stem the decline of this iconic gamebird in northern England.
However, whilst the population of black grouse in the north of England has stabilised over the past 10 years, a recent UK survey has reported a continuing overall decline of the black grouse population in Scotland, which is currently home to 75% of the remaining UK population.
In northern England 90% of the remaining black grouse are found on the fringes of moorland managed for red grouse shooting. Here they benefit from the habitat management and predator control undertaken by moorland gamekeepers.
Research by The Game Conservancy Trust reveals that survival rates of adult black grouse in the region are the highest recorded throughout their Eurasian range.
Long-term monitoring by The Game Conservancy Trust has also identified that in northern England, population recovery is limited by poor breeding success which is affected by three main factors, the quality of brood-rearing habitats, predation of nests and chicks by stoats and weasels, and weather conditions in June when the chicks first hatch.
The English Black Grouse Recovery Project was set up in 1996 and is a partnership between The Game Conservancy Trust, English Nature, RSPB, Ministry of Defence and Northumbrian Water.
Phil Warren, the Project officer said, "Although we have stemmed the decline of black grouse in northern England, the population range is still small, being restricted to parts of Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham and North Yorkshire, with 63% of the English population confined to just three North Pennine Dales."
National surveys of black grouse in England in 1998 and 2002 revealed overall stability in range, with an increase in numbers recorded from 789 males in 1998 to 893 males in 2002.
This success has been achieved through demonstrating that black grouse respond to appropriate management, particularly sheep grazing reductions on moorland fringe habitats and offering free advice to grouse moor owners, land managers and farmers on black grouse management.
Partner organisations, as well as funding the project, have also undertaken considerable habitat improvements on their own properties to improve conditions for black grouse.
Looking to the future of black grouse in England, Phil Warren explains, "The long-term stability of English black grouse is dependent on the consolidation and expansion of the current range. We have developed plans, which will help to expand the bird's range but this achievement is dependent on securing funding for the next five-year phase of the project."
In the spring of 2006, Phil Warren will be carrying out the latest English survey of black grouse to identify any population changes since the last survey in 2002. The project will continue to offer free advice. Phil Warren said: "To encourage landowners to manage the land sympathetically for black grouse we offer free advice on the range of grants that are available under the Government's new agri-environment schemes to fund habitat improvements, such as enhancing heather moorland and moorland edge habitats, and establishing new native woodlands to conserve this endangered Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species."
For free advice or to obtain copies of The Game Conservancy Trust's leaflet 'Conserving the black grouse', please contact: Phil Warren, Black Grouse Recovery Project Officer, The Game Conservancy Trust. Telephone: 01833 622208. E-mail: pwarren@gct.org.uk
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