Uplands monitoring in 2013 In northern England, red grouse densities reached unprecedentedly high levels. Š Dave Kjaer
KEY FINDINGS Red grouse post-breeding densities reached unprecedentedly high levels in northern England, although densities were similar to last year in Scotland. When used in the prescribed manner, the current single-dose medicated grit effectively killed strongyle worms in red grouse. In contrast with recent years, black grouse and capercaillie bred well in 2013. Black grouse chick survival in northern England was the highest recorded since our records started in 1989.
David Baines Dave Newborn David Howarth Philip Warren
Red grouse in northern England and Scotland One of our main long-term monitoring efforts centres on two sets of red grouse counts conducted in spring and summer, using pointing dogs on areas of heather of approximately 100 hectares (ha). The spring count is to assess potential breeding pairs, whereas the summer one is to estimate breeding performance. Spring 2013 will be remembered for the unseasonal prolonged cold, with snow persisting to mid-April on high ground. Our spring grouse counts were delayed and, for the first time in 30 years, were not completed. Large areas of heather, particularly on lower sites and east-facing slopes not protected by the snow, were damaged by the freezing winds. In northern England, grouse densities were very similar to 2012, with a mean 100 grouse per 100ha. Poor spring weather was compensated for by excellent warm, dry brood-rearing conditions. These conditions were associated with high breeding success of 2.8 chicks per adult in 2013 compared with 2.5 chicks in 2012. Accordingly, July densities averaged 358 birds per 100ha, the highest ever, up from 293 in 2012 (see Figure 1). All these increases, including record bags, point to the phenomenal success of the new, improved medicated grit. When viewing the cyclical nature of the historic grouse populations, 2013 should have been a crash year driven down by strongyle worms. This, like 2009, the predicted previous crash, was not the case on moors where
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Average density of young and adult red grouse in July from 25 sites across northern England, 1990-2013
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Adult grouse
Grouse per 100 hectares (+ 1 se)
Figure 1
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