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Half
Yearly Review December 2004 |
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GROUSE – FEAST AND FAMINE
Mike Thompson – Director of our Perth rural Management
department and a keen sportsman reviews some of the theories
behind the wide variation in grouse population densities
seen on Scotland’s moors this season. |
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For decades the fluctuations
within the Scottish grouse population have been well
recorded and accepted. Over many areas of grouse territory,
the last ten to fifteen years have witnessed suppressed
numbers with 2004 suffering a largely unexpected and in some
respects,
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unprecedented crash in
population. Having regard to the central Perthshire moors in
particular, many had reasonable to good spring counts,
chicks were hatched, brood size was at worst average and
then wham ………. either greatly reduced brood numbers or in
many cases no sign of hatched broods and what was more
concerning, cock and hen were also missing. |
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What happened? – The truth is we
still do not know for definite. For some time now the finger
has been pointed at sheep ticks and more particularly the
louping ill virus that they can carry if present.
Undoubtedly they have both contributed to losses and it is
widely appreciated that louping ill at a high level can be
devastating. The prolonged mild wet summer was ideal for
ticks and particularly tick survival. This will have allowed
louping ill infected ticks to quest for a host for a longer
period than is usual and many Estates that test for the
level of incidence of the virus have reported an increase in
2004.
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Outwith the tick debate there
are other contributory factors that are likely to have had
an effect this year. 2003 witnessed one of the warmest and
driest summers on recent record. Following the dry
conditions many keepers reported poor heather condition
going into winter and frost damage took its toll.
Consequently 2004 heather quality was generally poor with
much reduced new growth. Several areas were also hit by
heather beetle and in some cases to devastating effect. |
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The consequences of global warming may also not yet be fully
appreciated – are insects, crucial to grouse chick survival,
hatching earlier and therefore not coinciding with the
grouse hatch? Is the warmer climate allowing ticks to remain
active for longer periods and therefore have an even greater
impact? These questions are as yet unanswered.
There is also the raptor issue and whilst not wishing to go
over a well trodden path, it is entirely logical that the
impact of birds of prey on fragile grouse stocks will be
considerable. The debate will continue, and unless common
ground is found then our whole moorland ecosystem is
threatened. We must not forget that grouse shooting remains
the “heart” of moorland ownership and if lost, no amount of
SSSI’s or SPA’s will protect it to the same extent.
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So what does the future hold?
Through involvement with many grouse keepers and the SGA I
know how committed so many are to the future of grouse moor
management. In recent years there have been some excellent
initiatives in forming grouse management groups akin to deer
management groups and these are undoubtedly fostering a
better working arrangement between Estates and linking
together both farming and sporting interests.
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Through working closer
together and sharing ideas then let us hope
that more questions can be answered.
Mike Thompson
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