Capercaillie: World Record in the Canton of Schwyz

When Pierre Mollet from the Swiss Ornithological Institute picked up the bird droppings, he had no idea he was holding a sensational find: the droppings came from what is now the oldest capercaillie ever recorded. This world record was set in the canton of Schwyz, which implements conservation measures for the capercaillie and monitors its populations using a specialised monitoring method.

The oldest capercaillie on record are at least 10 years and 9 months old and live in the canton of Schwyz. This is known because their droppings were already collected in 2009 as part of a population monitoring programme carried out jointly by the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach and the canton of Schwyz .

Using molecular biology methods, it is possible to extract DNA from fecal samples. This allows genetic “fingerprints” to be created, enabling individual animals to be identified. These genetic findings also make it possible to draw conclusions about the size of a population. Observing and counting the birds is therefore no longer necessary. “Especially with the shy capercaillie, collecting droppings is an excellent method, as the birds are barely disturbed,” explains Pierre Mollet, capercaillie specialist at the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach.

The capercaillie not only lives a secluded life, but is also under threat. The Swiss population has been declining for decades. Many forests have become too dense and too dark for this demanding bird. In addition, the shy capercaillie is highly sensitive to disturbances. As outdoor activities increasingly encroach on natural habitats, disturbances are also on the rise.

The capercaillie has since been placed under protection in all Alpine regions with the exception of Austria, which has the largest population. Liechtenstein (1962), Switzerland (1971), Italy (1989), and Slovenia (1993) have halted hunting of the species. In Switzerland, it is classified as seriously endangered, and in the province of South Tyrol it has been protected since 2007. In Germany, the capercaillie is listed nationwide on the “Red List” as a bird species threatened with extinction.

The canton of Schwyz is home to some of the most important capercaillie habitats in the country. For this reason, the canton has been conducting regular population estimates using genetic methods since 2009, and promotes the capercaillie through targeted forest management measures. It is also committed to protecting the species from disturbance through the introduction of binding visitor management regulations.

With success: “In 2019, using genetic monitoring, we were able to find nearly 90 capercaillies in the part of the canton surveyed so far. That is more than at any time since monitoring began 10 years ago!”“, freut sich Pierre Mollet. Und nicht nur das: Das neu nachgewiesene Höchstalter zeigt, dass die Vögel sehr alt werden können, wenn die Lebensraumbedingungen stimmen. Im Kanton Schwyz ist dies offensichtlich der Fall.