Uplands monitoring in 2016


Although spring densities were slightly lower than last year, breeding success was better. © Laurie Campbell


BACKGROUND


Each year our uplands research team conduct counts of red grouse in England and the Scottish Highlands to assess their indices of abundance, their breeding success and how survival may change relative to Trichostrongylus tenuis parasitic worm infestations. They also count black grouse cocks at their leks and estimate productivity for black grouse and capercaillie. These data enable us to


plot long-term changes so we can recommend appropriate conservation or harvesting strate- gies. Such information is vitally important if we are to base such decisions on accurate estimates.


Red grouse


One of the main annual long-term monitoring undertakings by the upland research group are the red grouse counts, pre-breeding in the spring and post-breeding in July when numbers of adults and young are recorded. Counts started in 1980 in northern England and 1985 in Scotland and typically estimate grouse abundance using pointer dogs on 100 hectare (ha) blocks of predominantly heather-dominated moorland. Counts of strongyle worms, usually from shot grouse, are conducted on the same moors in August or September. Historically a sample of 10 adults and 10 juvenile birds were collected. Since 2010, because of low worm burdens, samples are collected from 20 adults only.


Grouse counts England: In 2016, spring densities were 6% lower than in spring 2015, with 110 birds per 100ha (117 in 2015). Breeding success in 2016 averaged 2.9 chicks per adult (2.0 in 2015), giving a post-breeding density in July of 327 birds per 100ha (283 in


Figure 1 Average density of young and adult


red grouse in July from 25 moors in northern England 1990-2016


Young grouse Adult grouse 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1990 44 | GAME & WILDLIFE REVIEW 2016 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 www.gwct.org.uk 400


Red grouse per 100 hectares (± 1 se)


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