Project Aims

This 5-year project aimed at improving breeding success, and halting the decline, of populations of Scottish capercaillie (T. urogallus) within six identified metapopulations. It established management regimes, and developed recommendations, that will enable the overall population to increase - thus contributing to the UK Capercaillie Species Action Plan target of 5000 birds by 2010.

The aim was that during the course of this LIFE - Nature project:

• Habitat management techniques will be developed, refined and shared.

 

• Links with other E.U. countries will be developed and information shared.

 

• An important site will be purchased and optimal management established.

 

• Co-ordinated site monitoring will be established.

 

• Enhanced levels of predator control will reduce predator activity.

 

• The condition of brood habitat will be improved at sites where it has become degraded.

 

• New brood habitat will be created at sites where it is limited.

 

• Fence threats will be removed or reduced on SPAs.

 

• These factors will combine to improve productivity.

The 5-year project ran until January 2007 and was managed and delivered through a partnership of public and private interests, it aimed to achieve practical measures to mitigate the threats to Capercaillie breeding success:

• Capercaillie population monitoring on all project sites.

 

• Over 1,000 hectares of habitat improved for chicks.

 

• 250 hectares of new chick habitat created.

 

• Capercaillie-friendly management in 1,400 hectares of plantations.

 

• Predation reduced in over 34,000 hectares of forest.

 

• 12 kilometres of deer fencing taken down to stop Capercaillie collisions.

 

• 22 kilometres of deer fencing marked to reduce Capercaillie collisions.