Home / Environment / Rare Black Grouse Thrives in New UK Habitat
Rare Black Grouse Thrives in New UK Habitat
7 Nov
Summary
- Twelve black grouse chicks successfully fledged in North York Moors.
- Twenty black grouse were translocated from North Pennines in autumn 2024.
- Habitat improvements were crucial for the birds' successful breeding.
Encouraging news emerges from the North York Moors, where 12 black grouse chicks have successfully fledged, signaling a potential return for the species after nearly 200 years without reliable breeding records. This success is part of the Black Grouse Range Expansion Project, led by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).
In autumn 2024, 20 black grouse were moved from the North Pennines to the North York Moors. By spring, seven males and seven females remained. Encouragingly, all seven males established display grounds (leks), and five of the seven females successfully hatched chicks.
Suitable habitat is critical for species re-establishment. The North York Moors benefited from years of habitat improvements, including moorland restoration and targeted predator management, creating favorable conditions for the birds' reproduction.
Black grouse are a Red List species in the UK, with their range severely restricted. This reintroduction effort, beginning in 2024, has seen positive results, with another translocation planned for autumn. The GWCT reported a 61% increase in displaying males in their wider monitoring program between 2025 and spring 2026.
