the capercaillie soon to be reintroduced in the Vosges?

The “translocation” of this bird, threatened with extinction in the Vosges massif, is the subject of a public consultation.

The Ballons des Vosges regional natural park wishes to strengthen the presence of a mythical bird: the capercaillie, threatened with extinction in this massif. His wish is to carry out a “translocation” of several birds, from Norway to the Vosges massif. The Vosges prefecture, which must give its agreement or not, has therefore launched a public consultation until Sunday March 24 while many scientists have already expressed their opposition to this reintroduction project.

The mixed forest filled with deciduous and coniferous trees would be a place that could perfectly accommodate the emblematic bird, according to Laurent Seguin, president of the Ballons des Vosges natural park. “We talk about it, very few have seen it and that’s why it is quite legendary, because it is quite difficult to see, especially since it has become rarer in recent decades”, he explains. He describes the sound of the capercaillie: “A rather particular sound composed in several ‘stanzas’: a first verse which resembles a knife being sharpened, then a slightly more guttural cry and which ends with the sound of a champagne cork being removed.”

Scientists and associations opposed to the project

There are less than ten “tetrao urogallus”, the scholarly name for the capercaillie, remaining. Before it disappears completely, the Ballons des Vosges natural park wants to import 40 birds from Norway per year, for five years. “These are birds that are deducted from Norwegian bird hunting quotas, would like to clarify Laurent Seguin, because the bird is very present in Norway. It is hunted, they shoot several thousand per year. So, we may be putting stress on them, but in a way, we’re also saving their lives a little.”

For its part, the Regional Scientific Council for Natural Heritage issued an unfavorable opinion, denouncing a project doomed to failure while global warming has already begun. An opinion shared by Claude Maurice, of the Oiseaux Nature association. “The numbers have been declining for 40 years, so death is certain. The habitats are no longer there, the conditions are no longer there. It’s over. The reception environment is no longer large enough and is no longer more quality, he insists. Predatory wild boars found on the ground destroy the grouse, destroying other species as well, such as the meadow burrow and others. And there is no political will to slow this down.” The decision from the Vosges prefect is expected in the coming days, while the park hopes to collect these birds quickly before the breeding period.