Autumn Population Size of the Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus in Relation to Weather

Abstract
Annual fluctuations in the autumn population size of the capercaillie T. urogallus at Vegarshei in South Norway, 1920-1970, were analyzed statistically in relation to various meteorological factors to discover short-term effects. The most important weather variables which coincided with a high population size were: an early snowmelt in spring, only a few days of rain at the time of egg-hatching at the beginning of June and only a few days of rain in July. These factors may have operated through their influence on the production of young. Data on the species from other countries are discussed.

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