Twelve black grouse chicks fledge in North York Moors
The successful breeding marks the first reliable record of the species in the area in nearly 200 years.
Twelve black grouse chicks have successfully fledged in the North York Moors, according to a report by the Times of India. This follows a translocation project in 2024 where 20 birds were moved from the North Pennines to the area.
The initiative, known as the Black Grouse Range Expansion Project, was led by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). Researchers moved 10 males and 10 females to the new location to expand the range of the rare birds.
By spring, seven males and seven females remained in the area. All seven males established leks, which are traditional display grounds used to attract females. All seven females attempted to breed, resulting in five nests hatching chicks.
The successful nests produced broods of one, two, four, and five chicks. These findings likely represent the first successful breeding in the North York Moors in nearly 200 years.
The project involved habitat improvements such as restoring land to bog, heath, and scrub woodland, as well as predator management. The GWCT stated that targeted predator and vegetation management were important for creating breeding conditions.
A further transfer of black grouse to the North York Moors is planned for the autumn, according to a report by Shooting UK published in September 2026.