Moray news: Dawn police patrols in Cairngorms to protect capercaillie
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Police are patrolling capercaillie mating sites in the Cairngorms at dawn in a bid to stop the continuing sharp decline of the population.
Birdwatchers, photographers and wildlife guides are being strongly urged to not go looking for the birds in the handful of forests where they still remain.
The clampdown has been launched as the capercaillie is being pushed ever closer to extinction.
Only 542 are now left in the UK – of which 85% are in the Cairngorms.
PC Dan Sutherland, a wildlife crime officer, said: "Following the arrest of a birdwatcher last April we will be conducting dawn patrols around lek sites.
"If you see someone disturbing capercaillie, call Police Scotland on 101.
"It is a criminal offence to disturb them while they are breeding, while they're near a nest containing eggs or young, or while they are with dependent young."
The efforts to safeguard capercaillie this spring are being ramped-up under the banner of 'Lek it Be'.
Carolyn Robertson, a project manager for the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, said: "We’ve identified a number of wildlife guiding companies that currently list capercaillie as a target species for their tours in the Cairngorms during the breeding season.
"However, it’s extremely positive to see others now with policies in place to not look for capercaillie at all. We’re inviting more to follow suit and become Lek It Be champions."
The campaign will ask Facebook groups to reject capercaillie photo submissions which draw attention to sensitive sites.
In addition signs are being put up on the ground, while CCTV will be in operation, too.
Rangers will also be on hand to offer alternative capercaillie-friendly routes for anyone looking to see other forest species at first light.
Josh Jones, editor of BirdGuides and Birdwatch, said: "It was shocking to learn that the UK capercaillie population has declined by 51 per cent in the last five years and is at the lowest recorded level since the start of the national survey in 1992.
"The population is now at a critically low level and us birders need to respond to this situation as a community.
"To make the greatest difference we all need to leave capercaillie in peace this breeding season and avoid the temptation to go looking for them.
"The decisions we make this Spring can influence the rate of decline. This is now the time for us all to put capercaillie first."
Commercial operators interested in becoming a Lek It Be champion can contact capercaillie@cairngorms.co.uk
