Cattle help revival of rare black grouse

A study by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) showed that fields grazed by cattle had twice as many sawfly larvae – a favoured food of newly-hatched black grouse chicks.

As well as boosting the number of sawfly larvae, which make up more than two-thirds of the chicks' diet, other food sources including caterpillars, spiders, harvestmen, plant bugs and flies were more plentiful in fields where cattle grazed.

The trust's Phil Warren said the cattle grazed differently from sheep, grazing less selectively and leaving vegetation at different heights, which was better for the insects. Black grouse chicks, which find their own food from the moment they leave the nest, sought out sawflies as their preferred food.

The research was conducted in the North Pennines, the remaining stronghold for black grouse in northern England, and compared information on vegetation and insect abundance in 11 paired fields, with each pair containing one area grazed by sheep only and one grazed by cattle or a combination of cattle and sheep.

The findings are being used by the GWCT to advise farmers on ways to boost black grouse numbers, which had been on the rise but were hit by two wet summers in 2007 and 2008, as well as last year's harsh winter. The trust hopes efforts by landowners to provide rich habitat for breeding in the area will help the birds make the most of good weather to boost their numbers.

Dr Warren 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."