Trip reports

Indoor Meeting

Wednesday, 20 February 2008

Mark, who is the RSPB Scotland Advisory Manager, kindly substituted for our original speaker who was unavailable. He gave the meeting an informal but very informative talk on the status of both species in Scotland. The caper numbers are gradually increasing after a dramatic slump in their numbers at the end of the 1990s. The problems of loss of habitat, predation, disturbance, and flying into deer fencing are all being dealt with successfully. The black grouse is also recovering from a drop in numbers thanks to measures being taken by the RSPB in conjunction with the Forestry Commission Scotland, NHS and interested private landowners. Mark would welcome sighting reports of the black grouse in the south east of Scotland, and members who see the bird in the Lammermuirs, Moorfoots or other areas of the Borders should advise Mark at the RSPB (mark.o'brien@rspb.org.uk) or tel: 0131 311 6500.