Scotland has failed the capercaille
Conservation projects have shied away from the need for wildlife management to save this iconic species, writes Rory Kennedy
For 30 years, the GWCT has been at the forefront of research into capercaillie conservation. It has always been an emotive subject. Despite the vast body of research, many of the best funded capercaillie conservation projects have shied away from one of the clearest needs – that of wildlife management.
Miredbyideologicalrifts,theconservation sector has failed in its approach andourcapercailliearepredictedtobe extinct within our lifetime, illustrated by the recent total loss of our western population.thesaddestfactisthatthis local extinction was within the Loch Lomond National Park yet received no media interest or public outcry. Saving the remaining eastern population was the reason for Naturescot’s Scientific Advisory Committee’s independent scientists evaluating the existing body of research, establishing the key drivers for population decline and recommending necessary actions. This was published in February and establishedthethreekeyissuesaspredation, human disturbance of nest sites and collisions with unmarked deer fences
There remain knowledge gaps and the evidence regarding human disturbance is contradictory. However, the message from the report’s chair is that any gaps must not stand in the way of addressing the primary drivers we do understand and can control, notably deer fencing and reducing predation pressure. However, the report suggests that in addition to reducing the number of predators, providing predators with alternative food may be one potential answer. This method could see deer remains left out during the broodseasontoprovidepredatorswith a convenient alternative food source.
Thistechniqueisnotanewideabutthe mosthigh-profilediversionaryfeeding study to date, by GWCT, showed little improvement in wider brood success when trialled with other species. Such anapproachremainssomewhatspeculative and, until proven, risks providing an all too convenient ‘out’.
The report highlighted a need to deploy predator control across the entire capercaillie range – crows, pine martenandfoxes.problematically,the primary predator threat comes from the legally protected pine marten and the current suggestion is for trap and translocation. This is time intensive and its efficacy questionable, but it is politically palatable.
Predatorcontrolisemotive,resource intensive and requires the expertise of skilled gamekeepers but if conservation organisations and policy makers continue to fail to act they must be made to answer publicly.
One thing is clear, productivity of capercaillie is key to their future. If capercaillie can’t successfully rear young in an area due to predation, then it becomes a population sink and is causing more harm than good. By sharing comparative data, management practices can evolve and adapt. GWCT has developed proven brood count techniques using trained pointing dogs but it is all too easy to dodge this important monitoring. Without it, it is impossible to know whether we are succeeding. This brood-focused approach should be a driver for Naturescot and Cairngorms National Park if they are actually serious about this ‘action now’ adaptive management approach.
We acknowledge Naturescot’s bold and creative approach in commissioning this review, but we now need to ‘walk the walk’. The key message fromthereport’sauthorsisthataction now, based on the existing science, is far more commendable than the perfectsolutionin20or30years’time,the current predicted extinction point for the UK capercaillie.
Unbeknowntothepublic,scotland’s western capercaillie population has already been lost and our iconic Scottish wildcat is now considered ‘functionally extinct’. Is this what success
looks like for public conservation policy?thisreportisamajorstepforward in averting another national travesty, buttherehasbeendenialinsomequarters over this level of necessary action fortoolong.wehavedodgedtheinconvenient truths. If we want to save our capercaillieitreallyisnowacaseofact now or never.
Rory Kennedy, Director Scotland, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust