Capercaillie Emergency Plan 2025 - 2030 - Flipbook - Page 23
4. Reducing the impacts of predation
Diversionary feeding
From 2021 Ð 2023, the Cairngorms Connect Predator Project undertook a
diversionary feeding trial which increased the chances of artificial nest survival
by 83%. When diversionary feeding is present, early analysis of real broods also
indicates a higher chance of detecting a hen with chicks instead of a barren hen.
The research is now published in the British Ecological SocietyÕs Journal of
Applied Ecology and diversionary feeding is part of routine operations for
Wildland Limited, Forestry and Land Scotland Glenmore and RSPB Abernethy.
In Deeside, facilitated by the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, Invercauld Estate,
Glen Tanar Estate, Forestry and Land Scotland Pannaniach and Cambus oÕMay,
RSPB Crannach, NatureScot Muir of Dinnet and Balmoral Estate carried out
diversionary feeding in 2024. Abergeldie Estate, Finzean Estate, Birse Community
Trust and Ballogie Estate also engaged although did not qualify for feeding sites
in 2024 as no signs of hen activity were found during cold searching. If hen signs
are found in future, it would indicate an opportunity to begin diversionary feeding.
Out with the National Park, Moray Estates have also begun diversionary feeding.
The original Cairngorms Connect Predator Project trial took place across 60km2
of sampling sites across the Cairngorms Connect partnership area in Badenoch
and Strathspey. It aimed to evaluate diversionary feeding as a management
intervention to reduce depredation on nests of capercaillie. The trial saw feeding
sites identified around suitable signs of hen activity. The sites were stocked with
~10kg of deer parts per fortnight over an 8-week period from the end of April to
the end of June.
The feeding sites were monitored for predator activity. Artificial capercaillie nests
near each feeding site were also monitored. The artificial nests were deployed in
and outside of feeding zones. Over two years of sampling, analysis showed that
the chance of an artificial nest surviving to 28 days (hatch age) was 40% in control
(unfed) sites and 73% in fed sites; an increase of nest survival of 83%. This was
primarily due to a reduction in the likelihood of pine marten, the main predator of
artificial nests in the study, consuming or caching eggs and a significant reduction
in artificial nest predation by badgers, with variability year on year.
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