| Stephen Firth 2007-03-31, 9:25 am |
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Worried about the decline of a species? The RSPB answer is to organise
theme park tours of it's precious habitat!!
http://tinyurl.com/2mnvj3
RESERVE'S BID TO HELP 'FUSSY' BLACK GROUSE
SAMANTHA CHETWYND
08:50 - 30 March 2007
A Highland nature reserve is taking vital steps to preserve one of
Scotland's fastest-declining birds.
Staff at RSPB Corrimony nature reserve, near Cannich, are undertaking
a number of projects to help reverse the dramatic drop in the black
grouse.
RSPB officer Eilidh Smith said the fussy birds need a "mosaic of
habitats" to survive.
She said: "They need forest woodland and open moorland as well as an
area with lots of insects when they are breeding and an open area
during the mating season."
"At Corrimony we have an area of Scots pinewood that has been thinned
to give it a more natural structure and a mixture of 28,000 native
trees are being planted. Cattle graze on clearings to keep them open
and grassy and on the hill, to break the vegetation up and increase
invertebrate numbers."
Over the past decade their population has dropped by 29% to fewer than
3,500 males. The Highlands is one of only a few places where their
numbers have increased.
Mrs Smith said there were only 15 males in the nature reserve 10 years
ago compared with 40 today.
In an attempt to raise awareness of the plight of the black grouse the
RSPB Scotland is running specially-arranged trips to the reserve.
"The safaris will take people out to view the birds responsibly. If
they are disturbed during the important mating ritual then they won't
breed," said Mrs Smith.
The trips will run from April 6-30 starting at 7am.
RSPB Corrimony nature reserve site manager Dan Tomes said: "We'll
hopefully be attracting new visitors to the area and offering a
completely unique experience for folk -
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