Black grouse love cattle

Recent research by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust has revealed that the rapidly declining rare black grouse are breeding three times better in fields where cattle were grazing with sheep than in those grazed by sheep only, because of the greater abundance of insects which young chicks need to survive.

Coinciding with National Insect Week organised by the Royal Entomological Society, the Trust’s research identified that fields grazed by cattle had twice as many sawfly larvae, which make up more than two thirds of the diet of newly hatched chicks.  Other favoured foods of black grouse chicks such as caterpillars, spiders, harvestmen, plant bugs and flies were also more bountiful in fields with cattle.

The study was conducted in the North Pennines, the stronghold for black grouse in northern England.  Black grouse breeding productivity has been monitored annually since 1998 across some 40 enclosed fields on nine farms.  Vegetation and insect abundance information were collected in 2009 from eleven paired fields, one grazed by cattle (cattle only or cattle and sheep) and the other by sheep only.

Dr Phil Warren, a research scientist with the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, said, “Low breeding productivity is seriously limiting the recovery of black grouse populations in northern England.  Poor weather in June when the chicks hatch is a major factor, together with predation by stoats and a lack of chick food insects.“

Dr Warren continues, “We cannot control the weather, so therefore we need to ensure that breeding habitats are rich in key insects, and that nest predators such as crows, foxes and stoats are controlled to maximise breeding success when weather conditions are good.  Reducing sheep grazing does improve breeding success by increasing cover rather than increased sawfly abundance.  If we can improve the abundance of insects, particularly sawfly larvae then this could dramatically improve the future survival of this enigmatic bird species in the Uplands.  This early research shows that cattle grazing could hold the key.”

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Photocaption:  Sawfly larvae are the favourite food of black grouse chicks and new research by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust shows that these tasty treats are more abundant in fields with cattle.

Notes to editors:

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is an independent wildlife conservation charity which carries out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats and we lobby for agricultural and conservation policies based on science. We employ 14 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics.  We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies.   The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse. For Information, contact: Morag Walker – Head of Media, Telephone – 01425-652381 (direct 01425-651000) Mobile – 07736-124097    www.gwct.org.uk

National Insect Week is organised by the Royal Entomological Society and is supported by a large number of partner organisations concerned with many aspects of insect science, natural history and biodiversity.  The website for National Insect Week is: www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk

Notes to editors

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is an independent wildlife conservation charity which carries out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats and we lobby for agricultural and conservation policies based on science. We employ 14 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming and statistics.  We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies.   The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.

For Information, contact
Morag Walker, Head of Media
Telephone: 01425-652381
Direct:  01425-651000
Mobile: 07736-124097