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THE RURAL STEWARDSHIP SCHEME Section 3 Black grouse
breeding areas The Black grouse is one of the most rapidly declining
bird species in the UK: between the late 1960s and the early 1990s, there was
a 30 to 40 percent decline in its breeding range. 3.1 Which parts
of my farm are important for Black grouse? Black grouse are birds
of the moorland/forest edge, requiring a mosaic of different habitats:
- Lightly grazed heather and grass moorland provide heather, cotton grass and
blaeberry for adults to feed on, as well as nest sites in rank heather and other
vegetation
- Mosaics, lightly grazed or ungrazed forests and woodlands
with plenty of open areas provide shelter in the winter as well as feeding for
adults in the winter and early spring. Semi-natural woodland with native species
such as birch, rowan, willow and Scots pine adjacent to moorland, are favoured.
- Open grassy areas of moor, areas of in-bye grassland at the moorland
edge or open areas in forests, including tracks and rides, provide suitable sites
for leks -the gathering together of displaying males.
- In-bye herb rich
meadows are thought to be important for hens and broods; while spring-sown cereals
-followed by overwinter stubble -in upland areas adjoining moorland or forests
with Black grouse, may be used by adults. Fodder crops with weeds may also be
beneficial in these locations.
- Wet flushes are important for broods as
they tend to be rich in invertebrates upon which chicks depend for the first weeks.
Heaths and mires with cotton-grass may be important in providing an early spring
food source for adults.
Black
grouse - Black cock displaying at lek in dawn light Photo: Chris Gomershall
(RSPB Images) 3.2 What measures can I carry out under the RSS that
will benefit Black grouse? - The moorland/forest or woodland edges
should not be heavily stocked, especially during the winter, to ensure availability
of cotton-grass and blaeberry for the grouse.
Prescriptions "For
Moorland" (11, 12 and 13)
may be useful to achieve this. - Deer fences are a significant factor
in Black grouse mortality.
- In consultation with the Forestry Commission
or woodland owner, dismantle or reduce the height of any deer fence if now redundant.
- Position any essential deer fences very carefully, for example not on
knolls with blaeberry not on the break of slopes nor close against plantations.
- Ensure that any new or existing deer fences are made more visible by
using a fence marker as described in the specifications table.
- Prescriptions
"For woodland and scrub"(27 and 28)
will provide the ungrazed or, in the early years of Scheme participation, lightly
grazed areas within woodland favoured by adult birds during the winter and early
spring.
- Prescriptions "Management of Open Grazed Grassland for Birds"
(2), "Management of Species-rich Grassland"
(6) and "For Moorland" (11, 12
and 13) may allow the creation and maintenance of suitable
lek sites.
- Prescriptions that will support the provision of feeding areas
for hens and their broods include "Extensive Management of Mown Grassland for
Birds" (1), "Introduction or Retention of Extensive Cropping"
(24) and "Unharvested Crops" (26)
- Maintenance of any areas of wet ground on moorland or inbye will
ensure an adequate supply of invertebrates - a source of protein for grouse especially
in the early spring.
- Legal control of foxes and deer may also benefit
Black grouse. The former potentially prey upon birds, chicks and eggs and the
latter causes a change to the nature of the vegetation and the dependent invertebrate
population that is food for the grouse
The following relevant works
will attract capital payments under the RSS:
| CAPITAL ACTIVITY |
SPECIFICATION | | Marking
of a Deer fence to reduce bird collision | In
areas where black grouse and capercaillie occur, to make the fence more visible
and thus reduce the number of collisions, use either: | |
i. A double strip of orange barrier netting, each strip of approximately 45cm
in width. Both strips should be secured with pig rings/wire twists at intervals
of approx 30cm on the upper and lower edges. The top of the upper strip should
reach the top strand of the fence. The top of the lower strip should reach the
middle of the fence. | | or |
| ii. Other fence marking approved by SERAD
for this purpose. | | Dismantling
of Deer fence to remove a cause of bird death and injury by collision |
i. All wires must be removed from posts and coiled/rolled. The wire must be
removed from the site and taken to a recognised disposal site. Posts may be left
lying along the old fenceline | < Previous | Contents | Next > | 
