Creating better conditions for endangered Capercaillie at RSPB Scotland's Abernethy nature reserve

[@SH-lx6re]

Brilliant work in protecting and helping these enigmatic and beautiful birds. Lovely little video.❤

[@peterfernie8320]

Great video! I was in the Ryvoan bothy, in that very area at the end of April 2024, and I saw the capercaillie doing its morning “courtship” dance to impress the group of watching hens. It was there for probably 30 mins in total, and it was quite a spectacle. Watching this just brought back how incredibly fortunate I was to see it. Great work👍

[@philiptaylor7902]

Great work, and good to see the positive engagement with local famers.

[@Akeeperslife]

The place is a barren desert for wildlife . If members of the RSPB realised what a ahambolic place it is , they wouldn't waste their money . The well managed sporting estates in the locality are plentiful with a mixture of species . The estate i worked on had the largest population of Caper at the time back in 2008.

[@WildlifeWithCookie]

cool, love the capers

[@ge9367]

Me too, they're delicious!

[@briiree]

That's so cool. Thanks for your work.

[@walkbeyondhorizon]

Stunning place and lovely video.

[@anthonydavies6021]

Wouldn't bison be excellent in the forest, assuming they eat heather? They would keep the soil turned over and substitute for the aurochs. Also wild boar, and lynx to keep down the deer numbers that will surely be preventing growth of new young trees (unless they are already culled).

[@AnneHudson-e2h]

Inspirational work. Well done. So good to see Capercaillie thriving with your care and local community support. I've been lucky to see a male Capercaillie at RSPB Loch Garten some years ago and it was an unforgettable experience. Please continue this excellent work and keep up updated

[@finntastic1473]

I'm sorry but you are being hoodwinked the capercaillie is in decline were the RSPB are responsible maintaining. They are in need of more money from the government teat. They have been given millions yes thats right millions for this endeavour but have failed miserably. This is a fact

[@bullyarena3923]

Besides larch trees they need, whats preying on them and the eggs? What do they have for winter forage?

[@chrismartin7594]

Well done,

[@Twitcher999]

Love it ❤️

[@pauldurkee4764]

I think its about time the RSPB looks at the wage structure of the employee's it has. The senior management are not doing their jobs for the love of nature but a tidy salary, there must be people who can fill management positions who will do it for the love of nature, not financial reward.

[@Parker_Douglas]

British royal legion who sell the poppies has a diversity manager on 70k a year these charities are ripping people off .

[@stephencorcoran7122]

What sort of reptile assessment is being done before unleashing the robot cutting machine? Quite concerned that this machine is likely to kill reptiles (and amphibians) in the thick vegetation.

[@RSPBvideo]

Hi Stephen, thanks for your message. The following comes from our Abernethy reserve team: Robocutting is carried out with consent from NatureScot. Potential impacts on reptiles and amphibians were considered when planning this work. RSPB staff walk the ground ahead of work taking place to identify important features for reptiles and amphibians. We avoid cutting areas such as brash piles, deadwood and large hummocks which can be important for hibernating. The end result is a mosaic of vegetation heights, giving refuge to reptiles in uncut areas. In the long term we believe this management will benefit reptiles by providing structural variation and more open ground for warming and hunting.

[@Solstice261]

What a beautiful place, nice to know you are trying to protect it. Is there any chance boars can be reintroduced, it seems odd being from another country that boars aren't allowed to rummage, specially when I thought boars had escaped and ran wild in the new forest

[@philiptaylor7902]

Trees for Life tried reintroducing wild boar at Dundreggan but I don't think it was successful. I'd be surprised to see the RSPB try in Abernethy TBH, they are still too controversial - but who knows they may make it there under their own steam from one of the feral populations.

[@johnballantyne6853]

Not a word about Predator control, but I’ll bet they do it ?

[@Akeeperslife]

Keepers do it for them . I was one of them.

[@Schroinx]

Consider year-round grazing/reilding with heck.

[@ge9367]

I think there's not enough wild land left in Scotland for these birds to thrive. The whole ecosystem in Scotland is a bit messed up and I think we're not reintroducing the animals in the right order.

[@pitbladdodavid]

You have to laugh though. Why has the population declined since 1988 when the RSPB bought it. Why has the charity then having to create better conditions. Surely this should have been a constant throughout the last 36 years. The charity is trialling new ways by introducing herbivores yet are killing 1000s of deer and demanding neighbours do the same. It says it all really when you have managed areas and unmanaged areas. Buying land to then not manage it will resort to nature dealing with it. Nature as we all know is harsh and deadly. One of the reasons protectionism isn't the answer. Why tell others how they should manage land if your own land management hasn't been working for species such as the capercaillies. The deer are hammering areas but they aren't hammering there. Maybe you should encourage the species of today rather than killing them off. They are being killed because we are told they are hammering the landscape. Is it grazing thats knocked back the heather or its become long and rank after its 25 year cycle allowing the light to get through for new growth. Cattle are selective eaters. Thats why they are supplemented during the grazing period. But long and short the RSPB need to really start managing the land, and rather than telling others their methods are bad and wrong when the evidence shows positive outcomes, the RSPB could be a lot more humble and learn from these other land owners.

[@finntastic1473]

Well said

[@ge9367]

The RSPB are subject to the desires of the people who donate from cities not those who live and work on the rural land. I do believe in re wilding but not how the RSPB are doing it.

[@fieldman7613]

How many £millions so far? And you still fail. Nice little earner for the RSPB though.

[@davelock3166]

I gave up giving years ago. A third of their income goes to 'consultants'. See their annual statements! They stopped access to their offices here by car some years ago. As usual these keepers of the countryside like to keep it for themselves.