Rural Affairs
Plans to expand grouse project
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| SUCCESS STORY: The rare black grouse |
A CAMPAIGN to save the rare
black grouse from extinction has
been such a success in the North-
East that a plan was announced
yesterday to repeat it in other
parts of the country.
The population of the bird has
risen steadily in recent years
since experts launched a project
to protect it in the Teesdale
section of the Pennines above
Barnard Castle, County
Durham.
There were 773 males of the
species in the north in 1998. It
was hoped to raise the total to
1,000 by 2010 - but that target has
already been passed and the
number is still rising. Most of the
increase has been in Teesdale.
Now the same methods are to
be used in remote parts of northwest
Northumberland and the
Yorkshire Dales, where there are
small colonies of black grouse.
They used to be common, but
were put under threat by predators
and the loss of habitat.
The Teesdale breeding areas,
known as leks, are currently in
their mating season. They have
been used by the males for 50
years. They gather to attract
females with early morning
courtship rituals in which they
strut around and ruffle their
plumage. It is the last remaining
stronghold of the species.
Project officer Philip Warren,
who has been working with the
species in Teesdale for several
years, said yesterday: "The
launch of this exciting new initiative
is a real milestone in
black grouse recovery. We have
demonstrated that through appropriate
management we can
reverse the decline of this threatened
bird. The battle is now on to
expand their range."
The effort to help them included
controlling their predators
- stoats, weasels, foxes and
carrion crows - and creating the
right habitat with a mixture of
heathers that attract insects on
which the chicks feed.
Mr Warren said that though he
is based in Teesdale, the project
also covers other sections of the
North Pennines, in Weardale
and Tynedale.
The 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 and Northumbrian
Water, with co-operation by
landowners and gamekeepers.
The expansion of the scheme
is being funded by a donation
from Natural England and a contribution
from the Yorkshire
Dales National Park.
Morag Walker, of the Game
and Wildlife Conservation Trust,
said yesterday: "Black grouse
are magnificent birds. When you
see them at their leks, with their
fabulous white tails and red
markings, they are wonderful to
watch. It is a spectacular sight."
Martyn Howat, director of
Natural England North-East,
said: "It is an exciting bird. It is
a big bird, and an important part
of the upland wildlife of
Britain."
Lindsay Waddell, head keeper
for Raby Estates, said: "We have
been heavily involved in the
black grouse recovery project.
Even at their worst, we had the
core population on our ground.
"We have also been aiding the
project by donating spare males
to support the population."
8:43am Thursday 1st May 2008
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