Origins of the Scottish Capercaillie (1 Viewer)

S

s0198815

New member

• Oct 18, 2004

• #1

Hi there,

I'm am hounours zoology student at edinburgh university. I am wrighting a project proposal for an investigation into the genetic diversity of the capercaillie populations in scotland.

My background reseach so far has come up with the history of their extinction in the 18th century and then their reintroduction. What I really want to find out is from which european population the new populations were established from.

If anyone can help me with this info or might be able to suggest where I can get it I would be very greatful.

Also it would be nice to here from anyone with a similar interest

Thanks

Ian

 

Andrew Rowlands

Well-known member

• Oct 18, 2004

• #2

Hi Ian and Welcome to Birdforum from all the Staff here!

Google may be a good place to start but make sure your spelling is correct

Someone will be along soon to point you in the right direction.

Cheers,

Andy.

 

david kelly

Drive-by Birder

• Oct 18, 2004

• #3

The original birds were brought over from Sweden and released in the area of Taymouth Castle in Perthshire. There were further releases later.

David

 

DJ Sideboard

Well-known member

• Oct 20, 2004

• #4

Birds were introduced from Sweden (the original introduction, as David says), Norway, Finland and Austria.

Cheers

DJ

 

Alastair Rae

London birder

• Oct 20, 2004

• #5

Google really should be your first port of call.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=capercaillie+reintroduced

First hit gives chapter and verse:
http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.capercaillie.html

 

DJ Sideboard

Well-known member

• Oct 20, 2004

• #6

Alastair Rae said:

Google really should be your first port of call.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=capercaillie+reintroduced

First hit gives chapter and verse:
http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.capercaillie.html

Click to expand...

But inaccurately states that all Scottish Capers are of Swedish stock .

 

G

ground-roller

Well-known member

• Oct 20, 2004

• #7

I've spoken to people (fairly un-reliable though) who maintain that the species never became extinct and that remanant indigenous Capper populations remained. These were augumented by the re-introduced birds.
Is there any evidence for this, is that what dj sideboard is hinting at above?

 

jpoyner

Well-known member

• Oct 21, 2004

• #8

ground-roller said:

I've spoken to people (fairly un-reliable though) who maintain that the species never became extinct and that remanant indigenous Capper populations remained. These were augumented by the re-introduced birds.
Is there any evidence for this, is that what dj sideboard is hinting at above?

Click to expand...

I've never come across this theory but it's an interesting one nevertheless which I'd like to find out more. So we have to ask, exactly who was it that proclaimed them as extinct in 1785, ornithologists, gamekeepers.......was every inch of dense pinewood searched, I'm sure that in 1785 there was no BTO census....so how many people were actually looking? (most modern day experienced birders find it hard enough, even in an area full of birds!!!?)

Maybe they disappeared from known leks and sporting estates but Scotland is a very big place. I certainly think that the idea of a few remaining birds hidden away somewhere is possible. I know very small areas of dense Pinewood which actually hold quite a few Capers....they are pretty good at hiding away!!!
Would be interested if anyone has any references to any literature which describes their "extinction".

JP

 

Last edited: Oct 21, 2004

DJ Sideboard

Well-known member

• Oct 21, 2004

• #9

ground-roller said:

I've spoken to people (fairly un-reliable though) who maintain that the species never became extinct and that remanant indigenous Capper populations remained. These were augumented by the re-introduced birds.
Is there any evidence for this, is that what dj sideboard is hinting at above?

Click to expand...

No, I was pointing out that birds were introduced from more then one country (and not just Scandinavia at that), as stated in my first post.

It is of course possible that the odd bird survived in Scotland, but I think its unlikely, as it was deforestation that drove them to (presumed) extinction, and the reintroduction followed the replanting of large areas. I think that our predecessors were probably rather better at finding Capers then us too, with dogs and guns!

A useful review of Caper literature can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/environment/crrn-02.asp

 

Last edited: Oct 21, 2004