Capercaillie rescue mission

Gamekeepers are being brought in in an attempt to save one of the UK’S most endangered birds, the capercaillie.

There are now believed to be fewer than 1,000 of the birds remaining in the wild. Habitat fragmentation has been identified as the key cause, however foxes and crows raiding nests is another major factor.

Now, part of a £2m grant will be spent on employing skilled gamekeepers to reduce predator populations.

The efforts of gamekeepers working on Seafield and Strathspey Estates are likely to be of great significance as the land is currently home to 20% of the UK’S entire population of the birds.

Seasonal gamekeepers will also be funded at Rothiemurchus Estate in a bid to cement and grow any existing populations.

Ewan Archer, head gamekeeper at Kinveachy, a part of Seafield and Strathspey Estates, has welcomed the project’s investment and believes it will deliver success for the species.“i think the CNPA should be applauded for their approach. They are supporting lots of different approaches to capercaillie conservation across the project, including this. We want to be a part of it because we believe the work of gamekeepers makes a positive difference.”

Predation and habitat loss have devastated capercaillie numbers