Like many countries throughout the world today, Scotland finds its native species under intense pressure even to survive. As the natural world and human interests collide, increasingly we are seeing our natural heritage slip away, frequently with a shrug of apathy. However, one such instance where this has not been the case was with the Scottish Capercaillie, which without recent intervention would have been teetering on the edge of its second national extinction in Scotland.

 

Whilst the Red Grouse was basking in the glory of the media spotlight, thanks to a jaunty strut down the red carpet, its larger cousin, the Scottish Capercaillie was named as Britain’s fastest disappearing bird. A population estimate of only 1,100 was the return from a joint Scottish Natural Heritage and RSPB survey carried out in 2000. The Capercaillie had previously reached a population of 20,000 birds after being reintroduced to Scotland from Scandinavia in the Nineteenth century.

 

One of the key factors in species decline globally is the fragmentation or entire loss of important habitats. By the turn of the millennium the impact of two world wars and increased agricultural pressures led to the native Caledonian pine forests, which make up the Capercaillie’s home, being reduced to only 3% of their original coverage.

 

The future for the Capercaillie became increasingly more fragile due to poor reproductive success and increased levels of adult mortality, which were largely attributed with accidental collisions with deer fences. Ironically, these fences were erected to protect the regeneration of the woodlands inhabited by the Capercaillie from intense grazing pressure. With so many serious factors combining, the future for the Capercaillie in Scotland appeared to be very bleak indeed.

 

However, the iconic Capercaillie received a boost when several governmental and nongovernmental organisations joined forces to prepare a Species Action Plan, outlining the steps required to conserve the Scottish Capercaillie population. These included ceasing the decline in the species by reducing adult mortality, increasing suitable habitat and improving breeding success.

 

The Capercaillie’s continued existence in Scotland received yet another boost when a European Union and Scottish funded conservation project was approved in 2002. The LIFE Natura project, ‘Urgent Conservation Management for Scottish Capercaillie’ received 2.3 million pounds of funding from the European Commission and had a total project value of 4.65 million pounds.

 

This level of funding ensured that vital habitat creation and management work could be carried out throughout 40,000 hectares of vital Capercaillie habitat, an area occupied by 95% of the Scottish population. Scottish governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations and landowners combined their efforts to create a healthier environment for the Capercaillie. The fi ve years of the Natura LIFE project saw a huge amount of effort poured into the conservation bid.

 

A programme of deer fence removal reduced the devastating impact on the population, whilst predator removal from sensitive areas during breeding season helped to increase breeding success. In addition to these outputs, enormous amounts of habitat creation and improvement were carried out over 40,000 hectares.

 

The conservation project has been extremely positive for the Scottish Capercaillie. There are now increased numbers of adults breeding in improved habitats which offer increased amounts of food, shelter and protection from predators. The next national survey will not be carried out until 2009, however, the most recent national count, carried out in 2004, estimated the Scottish Capercaillie population to be approximately 2,200 birds; double the estimated population from the previous survey.

 

Increased averages of chicks per hen also indicate Capercaillie are responding well to the actions of the conservation effort. Although the fi ve-year conservation project ended at the start of 2007, the fi ght to ensure that the Capercaillie has a future in Scotland has not. Those who have worked tirelessly to protect the Caper’s existence will continue to do so through new conservation efforts. Scotland need not lose any more of her wildlife to extinction. As long as we follow to example of conservation efforts like that of the Scottish Capercaillie we can ensure that the only extinction is that of apathy.

 

Dominick Murray