Publisher's Synopsis
The capercaillie is the biggest grouse in the world. It lives in Old World boreal and temperate forests and its range coincides largely with that of its main winter food, the Scots pine. This publication describes the biology and status of capercaillie in Scotland, discusses possible reasons for the decline in their numbers, and gives recommendations for managing forests for capercaillie. Most plantations which support good populations are rich in blackberry and a major recommendation is that this should be encouraged (guidelines are given).;These large birds need to have their management needs planned on a large scale. The impacts on capercaillie of changing climate, predators, mortality caused by fences, heavy grazing of ground vegetation by red deer and human disturbance are discussed.
