ACU - Asociación para la conservación del Urogallo

Tetrao urogallus cantabricus habitat use after construction of a wind farm

MANUEL A. GONZÁLEZ , SERGIO GARCÍA-TEJERO , ERIC WENGERT and BENITO FUERTES

Summary

Tetrao urogallus cantabricus is the most endangered capercaillie subspecies and unlike the others  it inhabits deciduous forests in the Cantabrian Mountains (north-west Spain). Its southernmost  distribution occurs in Mediterranean forests outside conservation areas where wind farm con- struction is increasing. We surveyed Cantabrian Capercaillie presence in a wintering site one year before and four years after wind farm construction. Sign abundance greatly decreased after wind  farm construction indicating a likely negative effect on Cantabrian Capercaillie habitat use.  According to the precautionary principle, in order to conserve Cantabrian Capercaillie, all its range  should be legally protected to avoid further wind farm construction and human disturbance.