‘Exclusion zone’ stops love-crazed capercaillie from attacking walkers
DURING the mating season, they turn into fighting machines.
Male capercaillies, Scotland’s largest game birds, go to great lengths to attract a female and fiercely protect up to 60 acres of territory.
Now one amorous male has forced an estate to create an exclusion zone to protect ramblers after it decided to start displaying, or lekking, in search of a partner three months early.
Footpaths on the Glen Tanar Estate near Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, have been closed off to stop walkers being violently attacked by the hefty bird.
The capercaillie cock may see walkers as a threat. Glen Tanar head ranger Eric Baird said: ‘It could be because the weather has been so mild. It could be because he’s coming under increasing pressure from visitors. So he’s reacting by trying to protect what he regards as his territory.
‘It’s his natural habitat – not ours. If people persist and remain in the area, there is going to be a confrontation.’
Capercaillies have declined in Scotland, from 20,000 in 1970 to only 1,0002,000 today. The Glen Tanar Estate has carried out work to improve habitats to protect and preserve the species.
Last year, one path on the estate was temporarily closed to visitors after a male seeking a mate pounced on a cyclist with its scissor-like beak.
Mr Baird said it was important not to disturb the protected birds, adding: ‘It is particularly important here on Deeside, as numbers are very low.’
Estate wildlife manager Colin McClean said lekking should take place in April and that the estate was working with the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Scottish Natural Heritage and Police Scotland to protect the male bird.
He added: ‘He’s really quite powerful and could certainly bruise a person. People could, understandably, attempt to fend him off and he could get hurt.’
‘It’s his natural habitat – not ours’