Published Date:
28 January 2009
THE survival of one of Scotland's iconic birds is under threat because of a wet summer.
The black grouse, on the UK's Red List of species of conservation concern, has seen its population fall from 25,000 in the 1970s to just 5,000 by 2005. Changes in habitat and land use have been the main causes of long-term declines in the past.
The RSPB says that, with recent declines in both the quality and quantity of the birds' preferred habitat, targeted conservation work to improve the species' chances of survival is needed urgently.
Duncan Orr-Ewing, the head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland, said: "Black grouse conservation work involves tremendous co-operation between RSPB, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, and Forestry Commission Scotland, as well as private landowners."
In ten years, numbers of black grouse have fallen by about 29 per cent in Scotland.
The full article contains 165 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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Last Updated:
27 January 2009 10:06 PM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
