Grouse can now spread their wings

May 1 2008 The Journal

A PLAN to expand the population of rare black grouse across the countryside of the North was launched yesterday.

The species – once common in the UK – has been under threat for a number of years, owing to loss of habitat and predators.

But thanks to a successful restoration drive, the North Pennines Black Grouse Recovery Project said the English population of the bird was up from 773 males in 1998 to 1,029 in 2006.

Now a consortium of conservationists is extending the project beyond the species’ stronghold in the North Pennines to more remote areas in North West Northumberland and the Yorkshire Dales.

Morag Walker, of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, said: “At one stage there were black grouse across the country. They were once very common but now they’re not, because of predators, and a loss of habitat, and so on.

“We’re now trying to expand their range so that they move out to other areas. We’re trying to get people on board in the project – landowners, gamekeepers, land managers.”

She said there are already “little, isolated pockets” of the grouse in Northumberland and Yorkshire – “but they are tiny, tiny amounts compared to sparrows, for example, which are two-a-penny”. Black grouse are currently in their mating season, during which the males perform showy early morning displays in woodland leks, or mating arenas.

Martyn Howat, director of Natural England North East, said the North Pennines lek, where the birds could be seen strutting and ruffling their black plumage, had been used for around 50 years.

He added: “In other upland areas in England and Wales there have been sharp declines in the population. The North East is the last remaining stronghold in England. It’s an exciting bird, it’s a big bird and it’s an important part of the upland wildlife in Britain.”

Mr Howat said that predators were a particular threat to the restoration of the bird population. The project’s aim is to see more of the right habitats created in which black grouse can thrive.

The North Pennines Black Grouse Recovery Project is a 12-year partnership between the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Natural England, the RSPB, Ministry of Defence, North Pennines Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership and Northumbrian Water.

Project leaders said the roll-out of the restoration plan was being funded by a new donation from Natural England and a contribution from the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Black grouse project officer Phil Warren said: “The launch of this exciting new initiative is a real milestone in black grouse recovery.”