Target types-Monitoring Auerhuhn — Evaluation of visitor guidance

Due to its high habitat requirements, the porridge is considered to be an indicator for a farsighted forestry oriented towards all forest functions. The forest structure plays a major role in the suitability of a habitat. Above all, it is important to promote loosened forest structures. As part of the LIFE project (Action F.5), in addition to courting censuses, the Habitat quality and the action space of the caper chicken populations with a repeatable Inventory monitoring (grid mapping) in the Gstatterbodner boiler and at the Goldeck Scheuchegg is captured. These surveys were carried out in 2004 in the Johnsbachtal (Gscheideggkogel). In addition, the places of stay of the chickens in winter and the intensity of the tourist use of ski tours at the Gscheideggkogel and in the Gstatterbodener Kessel were recorded. In winter in particular, forced evasive reactions could result in high energy losses, so that the increase in ski tourers in caper chicken habitats can be expected to be significantly impaired by long-range and repeated disturbances. Since the number of ski tourers is particularly high at the Gscheideggkogel, slogans were collected here in the winter of 2008 and 2010 and were examined genetically and for stress hormones. The results of all investigations within the framework of the monitoring serve on the one hand as a basis for habitat-improving measures, such as stock conversions, clearings, rejuvenation, etc., and on the other hand for the adaptation of the ski touring routes or the delimitation of rest areas.