Capercaillie Emergency Plan 2025 - 2030 - Flipbook - Page 25
Partners (alongside the Park Authority and NatureScot)
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Land managers in areas with suitable hen records
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Scottish Forestry
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University of Aberdeen
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University of St. Andrews
Key points on current feasibility and delivery
1. Diversionary feeding sites are only deployed in areas (1km2 zones) where
hens have been recently recorded, and scope therefore exists to see more
hens with chicks if nest predation is reduced. This approach also avoids
feeding where it would not act as a diversion and would just be feeding.
2. Diversionary feeding is likely to be most beneficial in years when field vole
populations are low, which can cause predators to divert to other food
sources. Vole population monitoring should therefore form an essential part
of diversionary feeding.
3. Fox and crow control for capercaillie can continue alongside diversionary
feeding which is primarily targeted at pine marten and badger. If delivered in
tandem, it is not currently known how both interventions may influence
efficacy. However, sites in Deeside that undertake fox and crow control for
capercaillie also undertook diversionary feeding in 2024 and this may
provide insights.
4. Options for deploying food at feeding sites include culling deer if viable out of
season and leaving carcasses in-situ (or moving them into situ) or taking
~10kg of carrion to the sites every 2 weeks for 8 weeks.
5. On landholdings that do not undertake deer control, collaboration is
recommended to source material. This approach was trialled in Deeside with
waste material from the local Forestry and Land Scotland deer larder being
used to supply feeding sites on Forestry and Land Scotland Pannaniach and
Cambus oÕMay, RSPB Crannach and NatureScot Muir of Dinnet. A volunteer
was recruited to help collect and distribute the material to sites.
6. Scope exists to develop agreements with other deer larders, game dealers
and stalkers to enable greater access to carrion / waste material.
7. Deer culled with non-lead ammunition is preferable for use on feeding sites.
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