An emergency plan to save the UK’s capercaillie population may involve introducing birds from continental Europe to boost dwindling numbers.

Currently, only about 532 capercaillie remain, all located in Scotland, and experts warn they could face extinction within 30 years.

The five-year plan, launched by Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) and NatureScot, aims to increase the birds’ woodland habitat and conduct a feasibility study on bringing in birds from outside the UK to reinforce the population.

Another key goal is reducing the impact of predators, such as pine martens and badgers, by diverting them away from capercaillie nests through “diversionary feeding.”

This method has been tested by University of Aberdeen researchers, who placed deer meat near fake nests filled with chicken eggs to lure predators away.

The experiment showed that 83% of the false nests survived, suggesting the approach could help protect capercaillie nests.

Britain’s native capercaillie went extinct in the 1780s, and the current population is descended from birds reintroduced from Sweden in the 19th century.

However, numbers have been declining since the 1970s due to habitat loss, predation, human disturbance in breeding areas, and fatal collisions with deer fences.

Andy Ford, of CNPA, said: “The Cairngorms National Park is home to 85% of the UK capercaillie population, so action in the national park is critical.

“Protecting capercaillie has always been a collective effort.

“Thanks to the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project more people than ever before are now actively helping the species alongside the longstanding efforts of land managers and organisations.”

The Scottish government requested the emergency plan, and NatureScot’s deputy director, Eileen Stuart, warned that the species could vanish within 30 years without further action.

She added: The emergency plan will do just that and is the result of intensive work with over 100 stakeholders who are all committed to safeguarding the future of capercaillie.”

 

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