Black Grouse Habitats and Land Management MANAGING HABITATS for BLACK GROUSE

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Black grouse are found on moorland, rough WHAT DO BLACK GROUSE NEED? grazings, young conifer plantations and suitable native woodlands in upland areas of Black grouse need a mosaic A range of food types Britain, from Wales to Northern Scotland. of habitats throughout the year Arable fields (stubbles) and inbye grasslands at Throughout the year, black grouse will use Heather and blaeberry are important foods the moorland edge may also be used. a wide range of habitats for nesting, for adult black grouse throughout the year. Black grouse is one of the fastest declining feeding, lekking (displaying), chick-rearing, In the autumn and winter, they will take species in the UK. The most recent survey cover and shelter. Farmers, foresters, buds from trees such as birch, and berries revealed an overall decline of 29% in Scotland moorland managers and gamekeepers all from rowan and hawthorn. At other times of between 1995 and 2005, with populations in play a vital role in safeguarding these the year, grasses, sedges, rushes and herbs the south of the country experiencing the habitats in the parts of Scotland where might be eaten depending on local black grouse remain. availability. Adult females benefit from steepest declines. The range of black grouse in eating protein-rich foods such as larch buds Britain contracted by 28% between two major Long vegetation for nesting and cotton grass buds in the spring as this bird distribution surveys (1968–72 and Black grouse require long heather or helps them to get into good breeding 1988–91). This is a big contraction, undoubtedly areas of tall vegetation (>40 cm) for condition. Insects, including caterpillars and associated with the population decline. nesting and cover. sawfly larvae, are an important food source for chicks (see back page for further details). Black grouse Habitats and land management MANAGING HABITATS FOR BLACK GROUSE

Habitat management for black grouse should focus Woodland within an area of up to 700ha around lek sites (1.5km Conifer plantations radius from the lek). As black grouse require suitable Pre-thicket conifer plantations can suit black grouse – the habitat at a large scale, management across absence of grazing animals can allow good ground cover Adam Fraser neighbouring land holdings could be crucial. to develop for nesting, feeding and chick rearing. As Management carried out beyond this area could help plantations mature, the canopy closes, shading out ground connect lek populations and promote range expansion. vegetation and making the plantation unsuitable for black The best way to manage for black grouse on your land grouse. The following measures can be carried out to is to walk the ground with an adviser and discuss maximise the value of conifer plantations for black grouse: options for management. This will help to establish Restructure or thin edges of forests on the moorland the probable limiting factors for black grouse on your • edge or plant these areas at a lower density to give holding, therefore enabling management for black areas of scattered trees rather than a “hard edge”. grouse to be prioritised. • Establish larch and native tree species along forest edges using species such as birch, alder, willow, rowan, hawthorn, juniper and Scots pine. • Widen rides and create open ground within plantations, and use open ground and planting to J Gordon New native woodland schemes can provide high connect black grouse habitats. quality habitat for black grouse. Areas of internal open • To prolong the value of new conifer plantations, plant space help to prolong their value some areas at a low density, and/ or leave large gaps between blocks. Native woodlands Semi-natural woodland and scrub on moorland fringes After clear-felling, clear brash and delay or stagger • and along burns can provide habitat for black grouse. restocking to encourage ground vegetation recovery. When creating and managing native woodlands: Restructure plantations to create age-class diversity – • Plant some areas at low density, especially on the black grouse will use blocks up to 10–15 years old. • outer edges of the woodland, and maximise areas of • Carry out deer management to encourage open ground in new planting. regeneration of the field layer. • Use species such as birch, alder, willow, rowan, • Swipe strips or patches in open areas to create a hawthorn, juniper and Scots pine. mosaic of heather within plantations. • Manage livestock grazing to avoid damage to • Create damp flushes in open ground, which can native woodlands. become rich in invertebrates for chicks. • Avoid using for pheasant shoots that may disturb Hard edges of forestry like this can be “softened” by • Safeguard lek sites in clearings and on tracks. black grouse. thinning or by low density tree planting along the edge

Moorland/farmland • Species-rich grasslands provide year-round food, Black grouse use heather moorland and inbye habitats on supporting key food plants in autumn/winter and high hill farms, often lekking on permanent pasture at the invertebrate densities for chick-rearing in summer. moorland edge. Hill arable fields may provide shelter plus Retain or create such grassland areas, and manage grain and/or weed seeds in autumn and winter. them to allow flowers to set seed. • Use muirburn/swiping to create a mosaic of long and • Many black grouse nest and rear their young in the short heather. The Muirburn Code should be adhered grass/rush/sedge mosaic found on the “white hill” of to if burning is carried out. the moorland edge. Lightly graze areas of white hill to give some areas over 30 cm in height. • Manage livestock and deer grazing levels to help maintain a varied structural mosaic of heather and • Adverse effects of bad weather on chick survival may

rough grass. worsen in tall, dense vegetation. Providing a mosaic Yvonne Boles of shorter and longer vegetation could lessen the Manage boggy/marshy ground to provide feeding • effects of wet and cold weather in late May and June. areas for black grouse. Cotton grass is an important food for hens in early spring and invertebrate-rich wet • Sow unharvested crops and retain arable stubbles. flushes provide important chick-rearing habitats in Spring cereals and weedy turnip crops may be Heather and blaeberry are important foods for adult summer. Retain and lightly graze existing wet areas particularly good. black grouse and create new ones by, for example, grip blocking.

Other management Predator control Lek sites Ensuring the availability of good cover will reduce Patches of semi-improved grassland on open hills, and predation risk for black grouse. Co-ordinated and targeted permanent pasture on the inbye can provide lek sites for legal predator control can improve breeding success and black grouse. possibly adult survival. • Avoid disturbing lekking areas between March Deer fences and stock fences and May. Fence collisions can be a cause of black grouse mortality. Ideal leks have an open aspect and are often grazed Deer fences should only be erected, maintained or renewed • short. Aim to keep vegetation short at known lek sites. where there is no other viable means of deer control, and only after proper assessment of the risks. In addition: • Avoid planting trees within 100 m, supplementary stock feeding, or erecting stock or deer fences near to Remove redundant fences. • lek sites. • Site new fences and mark existing fences (where continued use is considered essential) according to current best practice. See FCS Guidance Note 11 “Deer and Fencing”. (Continued on back page) Marking fences can lower collision risk • Position stock fences clear of flight lines to and from leks and important feeding areas.