Black grouse numbers recovering
Image: Markus Varesvuo
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has announced that population numbers of the rare black grouse have doubled in the North of England after two successful breeding years. Such news has been welcomed warmly by conservationists after harsh winter conditions two years ago led to the black grouse population dropping to the point where there were just 500 males left.
The black grouse population, once common across much of the South of England, is now only extant in Cumbria, County Durham, Northumberland and North Yorkshire. The species is red-listed as a high conservation concern after the population dropped from approximately 25,000 displaying males during 1970 to approximately 5,000 during a survey in 2005.
Welcoming the news, Dr Phil Warren of the GWCT said “The remarkable come-back of black grouse in the North Pennines is a huge achievement for all those involved in black grouse recovery and we are particularly grateful to the many farmers, gamekeepers and grouse moor managers who have implemented our recommendations. There is no doubt that without their support and enthusiasm we may have lost this enigmatic bird.”
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