"The Capercaillie is the most rapidly declining bird in UK. The pressures on Scotland's dwindling Capercaillie population are many, such as poor weather at chick hatching time and collisions with deer fences. There are also other, indirect problems. For example, this popular bird is highly sought after by birdwatchers, keen to see them in spring during lekking when they are at their most active.

Minimising disturbance to Capercaillie at lekking time is crucial in helping to reduce the pressures on this amazing bird."

Richard Thaxton, RSPB Site Manager

 The Capercaillie is the largest member of the grouse family, about the size of a turkey. The male Capercaillie is a distinctive bird which undertakes lavish mating displays (known as lekking) to attract females. These displays not only attract interest from female Capercaillie but also draw birdwatchers from far and wide.

To encourage restraint amongst birdwatchers from actively looking for Capercaillie at this sensitive time, a code of conduct has been drawn up. However it was also felt that if the voluntary code was to work, then an alternative means of viewing Capercaillie without disturbance had to be found.

  To address this issue, a viewing initiative was established at the Loch Garten Osprey Centre during the main lekking season of early April to mid-May. The aim of the Caper-Watch was to provide the opportunity for birdwatchers to see Capercaillie lekking without the potential risk of disturbing them.

  During the peak lekking period only, 1st April to 21st May, the Osprey Centre will open from 5.30am to 8am daily for capercaillie viewing. (The Centre re-opens for regular osprey viewing from 10am to 6pm) A CCTV camera is installed on a lek, (their ritual display grounds) which, as a minimum, relays live pictures of lekking Capercaillie to a monitor in the Centre. In addition, the birds themselves can often be seen directly from the Centre where staff are on hand to interpret what is happening.

In 2005 during the 52 Caper-Watch mornings, capercaillie were seen directly from the Centre and via the live camera link-up on 41 mornings. Visitors were often treated to good views of male Capercaillie fighting, displaying to females and mating. Such a successful sighting rate is very high compared to the likely view one would normally get looking for them i.e. of the back-end of a disturbed Capercaillie as it flies off through the forest!

During Caper-Watch 2005 over 2,020 people visited the Centre to see Capercaillie and most succeeded in doing so. Whilst this initiative no doubt tempted some people to get up early who otherwise wouldn¹t go out looking for Capercaillie, it also attracted a high proportion that would have gone out looking.

Hopefully, with more people coming to the Centre rather than potentially risking disturbance to the birds, the Strathspey Capercaillies at least will have had some badly needed peace in the woods during their Spring breeding season. This, in some small way at least, will help the fortunes of this beleaguered flagship Scottish bird.

The Caper-Watch project is operated by RSPB Scotland.  The admission charges are:

RSPB members (with card) £1
Non-members £3
Children go free!

The Osprey Centre is open 10am to 6pm, from early April to the end of August. For further information telephone 01479 821 409 (01479 810 363 for tourist information), or email abernethy@rspb.org.uk

Photos courtesy of RSPB images

This Case Study updated 31 October 2005

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