BY BERT BURNETT Why ‘Official’ Conservation Fears Success In the rolling hills and managed woodlands of Britain, a quiet war is being waged for the future of our native species. On one side are the gamekeepers and land managers, whose hands-on stewardship has preserved the very landscapes we hold dear. On the other, a powerful coalition of once well-funded conservation charities who, from their air-conditioned … Continue reading The Captive Release Blockade
BY BERT BURNETT How Mismanagement and Predation Are Driving Scotland’s Iconic Bird to Extinction For decades, conservationists have peddled the same tired excuse for the capercaillie’s catastrophic decline: lack of habitat. But the numbers tell a very different story—one of wasted millions, misguided priorities, and a refusal to confront the real threat: predation. The Habitat Myth In the 1960s, Scotland’s capercaillie population thrived at around 20,000 birds. … Continue reading The Great Capercaillie Lie
BY BERT BURNETT The recent final report on the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, presented by Andy Ford, Director for Nature and Climate Change, reads like a self-serving obituary penned by a notorious highwayman. After a staggering £16 million public expenditure and a 75% decline in the capercaillie population over the last two decades, the report boldly claims the project’s success. This audacious declaration feels like Dick … Continue reading The Cairngorms Capercaillie Project’s Dubious Success
BY CALUM CAMPBELL I photographed this magnificent cock capercaillie (below) a couple of years ago. I had mixed emotions: excitement and thrill but also sadness at their plight. Currently, the capercaillie population is so low it is hardly sustainable. Their numbers are alarmingly declining due to several reasons. Capercaillie chicks need June to be dry. About three-quarters of their energy is used for rapid growth, … Continue reading Capercaillie in Scotland
BY BERT BURNETT Loch Lomond was once a stronghold for capercaillie but thanks to RSPB type management where nature takes its own course the capercaillie is now gone forever. It has been suggested for years that the way to bring back capercaillie is to rear and release but RSPB have effectively blocked any attempts for this to happen. They encourage releases with so many other … Continue reading The RSPB Works in Mysterious Ways
