Print
Saving the capercaillie
)
The world's largest grouse, the capercaillie, is also one of the UK's birds most at risk of extinction.
Today, just 1,200 capercaillie remain in Scotland's fragmented pine forests. They are found nowhere else in the UK. Together with private landowners, Scottish Government and financial supporters, we are working hard to reverse their decline through conservation and advisory work.
Friends of the Capercaillie, led by the Earl of Lindsay, brings together people with a common purpose: to save the capercaillie.
Since it was formed eight years ago, the Friends have been instrumental in raising the profile of the species' plight and building support for its conservation. Each year Friends have the chance of an exclusive audience with the capercaillie at a dawn wildlife safari.
What are we trying to do?
The Government agreed a Biodiversity Action Plan for this species in 1995. The targets for this plan were reviewed in 2011. The current targets are to:
-
Increase the population of capercaillie in Scotland to 2,000 by 2020
-
Increase the population of capercaillie in Scotland to 5,000 in the long term
RSPB Scotland co-ordinated a national winter survey in 2009/10 which estimated the Scottish population to be 1,285 birds. This represented a 35 per cent decline from the previous survey in 2003/04. The surveys indicated that capercaillie numbers remains stable in core areas but declined seriously elsewhere.
This species remains at real risk of extinction from the UK and conservation action must continue. The capercaillie is a priority species under the EU Birds Directive and thus Scotland has special duties to conserve them.
Should the capercaillie vanish from our forests, we will lose far more than a species. Over the centuries, this bird has become an integral part of Scotland's cultural heritage, inspiring poets, musicians and artists.
More information
Find out what we've been doing to save the capercaillie and our progress so far.
Last modified: 24 April 2012
|
Today, just 1,200 capercaillie remain in Scotland’s fragmented pine forests. Together with private landowners, Scottish Government and corporate support, we are working hard to reverse their decline through conservation and advisory work. More... |
) |