Iceland faces alarming decline in grouse population due to unprecedented summer weather conditions

The summer weather conditions across northern Iceland have raised significant concerns regarding the local grouse population, marking an unprecedented situation in the 60-year history of grouse monitoring in the country. A late spring snowstorm in early June resulted in a large number of female grouse abandoning their nests.

This summer’s survey revealed a sharp decline in brood size, with the average dropping to 4.5 chicks per female, a stark contrast to the historical norm of seven to nine chicks. At least half of the chicks that hatched this summer did so at least a month later than usual, with no previous records of such delays during the monitoring period.

Further data indicates that nearly 300 female grouse were counted this summer, averaging about 50 per counting area. There was a notable difference in the proportion of females without chicks across different regions. In the South, West, and Northwest, the average was six chicks per female, with around seven percent without offspring. However, in the West Fjords, Northeast, and East, the figures were significantly lower, with about 4.5 to 5.2 chicks per female, and between 23 to 28 percent of females not raising any chicks.

The monitoring organization has pointed out that this marked decline and the increasing incidence of brood failures are alarming developments. The late spring snowstorm appears to have widespread implications for grouse breeding, compounded by repeated rainy weather experienced throughout June and July. This situation has become a pressing issue for conservationists and relevant authorities in Iceland.