Experiments to increase red grouse stocks and improve the Irish Bogland environment

Foods of a Marginal Red Grouse Population in Western Ireland

“…On the blanket bogs of western Ireland, however, heather is thinly distributed and sparse in growth. Red grouse are at the edge of their geographical range, and breeding densities are consistently low (Watson and O'Hare 1973). Current evidence from Scotland links variations in the breeding density and breeding success of moorland red grouse with quantitative and qualitative variations in the supply of heather (Watson and Moss 1972).…”

Breeding bird populations of Irish peatlands

“…Red Grouse is a particularly important species in an Irish context as it is the only bird species that is exclusively found on Irish peatlands. Watson & O'Hare (1973, 1979a studied Red Grouse populations on a blanket bog in Co. Mayo and found that after application of fertilizers to a flat area of peatland, heather coverage increased and this led to an increase in grouse density. Another experiment involved fencing off an area of a heavily grazed hill which led to increased growth of heather and subsequent colonization by grouse (Watson & O'Hare 1973, 1979a.…”

“…Watson & O'Hare (1973, 1979a studied Red Grouse populations on a blanket bog in Co. Mayo and found that after application of fertilizers to a flat area of peatland, heather coverage increased and this led to an increase in grouse density. Another experiment involved fencing off an area of a heavily grazed hill which led to increased growth of heather and subsequent colonization by grouse (Watson & O'Hare 1973, 1979a. In moorland in southern Scotland and northern England, Red Grouse was associated with Heather Calluna vulgaris, although it favoured some heterogeneity in cover (Pearce-Higgins & Grant 2006).…”

“…The results of these studies have found breeding season species richness to be very low on raised bog and blanket bog: Madden (1987a) found 12 species on an area of intact raised bog in Mongan Bog, Co. Offaly, with only four species being proven to have bred; Lack & Lockley (1935) found only three species present in a blanket bog site in Letterfrack, Co. Galway. Other studies have focused on single species in peatland such as Red Grouse (Watson & O'Hare 1973, 1979a, Lance & Mahon 1975, Murray & O'Halloran 2003, Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus (Norriss et al 2002) and Common Redshank Tringa totanus (Nairn et al 2004).…”