Species

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Species	Red grouse - Lagopus lagopus, bird
Habitat	UPLAND HEATHLAND
Background and status	This is a sub species of the willow ptarmigan which lives in the sub-Arctic but as the red grouse almost always feeds on heather, it usually lives on heather moorland. It is a gamebird and estate gamekeepers manage grouse for shooting parties. The male birds are territorial and the females nest within the boundary of the territory. The birds nest in mature heather and lay clutches of between six to nine eggs. The chicks are fed insects and spiders and leave the nest when they can walk. They are able to fly after about two weeks. Mortality, due to predation, is high when the chicks are young. The adult birds feed mainly on heather, although other foods, such as bilberry, provide added nutrients, especially in the winter. Most grouse breed in the northern half of the British Isles, with the South West (Dartmoor and Exmoor) supporting small breeding populations. The numbers of red grouse have declined markedly this century.
Main Threats	Loss of heather moorland is possibly the most important reason for the decline in red grouse numbers. This is attributable to heavy grazing pressure from large numbers of cattle and sheep which leads to the loss of heather from the moor. Burning is a traditional way of managing moors, but too frequent and extensive burns can be detrimental and increase the rate of heather loss.
Conservation and targets	Appropriate management of moorland is essential to stop the decline of red grouse. Reduction in grazing pressure and the extent and frequency of burns is essential to restore the heather cover needed by the birds.

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