Iconic capercaillies could return to bird sanctuary near Loch Ness
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Endangered capercaillies could be returning to an estate near Loch Ness according to a Highland politician who has become a champion of the iconic bird.
Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has been getting out in nature, visiting the Corrimony RSPB nature reserve this week.
The 150-hectares of open moorland, conifer plantations, woodland, wetlands, and mountain habitats and is a popular spot for bird lovers.
Ms Roddick was shown around the reserve as she began the second week of her busy recess schedule. Ms Roddick, who is Scottish Environment LINK’s “Capercaillie Champion”, said it was great to hear about the history and potential future of the area and how the critically endangered capercaillie may be able to return to the area in the future.
She said: “I had a brilliant morning being shown around the Corrimony nature reserve and I am so grateful to Simon from the RSPB for taking the time to talk me through the work going on in the area.
“It was really interesting to hear about the biodiversity of Corrimony and the incredible birds that folk come here to see as well as how, with careful management, capercaillies might be able to return to the woodland.
“We also spoke about the recent wildfire which impacted a large part of the reserve. I was heartened to hear about how the community, including kids at local schools, is coming together to rebuild and replant.”
Today, it is thought there are fewer than 60 male capercaillie in Scotland's national forests and it is on the endangered species red list.
The males in particular are big aggressive birds that look more than capable of taking care of themselves. In spring, they strut and posture, and can get into ferocious fights with other males to maintain their status.
The birds facing the biggest fight, however, are the females and their chicks.
Prolonged cool weather in spring prevents females from getting into breeding condition in the first place, while wet summers chill chicks that are already struggling to find enough food to survive.
Nesting females and vulnerable chicks are also under threat from forest predators. And even before hatching, many eggs are stolen by scavengers.
The problems don’t stop when they’re big enough to fly. Many capercaillie of all ages – males too – crash into deer fences and are killed.
Future success relies on a lot of planning by foresters to ensure that birds are not disturbed during their breeding season.
In forests where capercaillie are found, as much deer fencing as possible is removed or made more visible to flying birds.
