Dog walkers are helping to save the capercaillie by keeping their pets on a lead, a survey conducted by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has revealed.
The woods at Boat of Garten in the Cairngorms National Park are a breeding site for the birds, which are sensitive to disturbance by people and dogs.
Work was carried out to examine walkers’ behaviour after a community-backed campaign to promote responsible dog walking. The survey found there have been some startling changes since the campaign started.
There has been a 66% reduction in the number of visits by people with dogs in the sensitive part of the woods.
The proportion of dogs on leads has increased from 17% to 37%, and 71% of dogs are now assessed as being under close control.
Capercaillie chicks and eggs are especially vulnerable to disturbance by dogs, as they cannot escape. If the hen is driven away, the brood can become chilled, or killed by the dog, and is more vulnerable to attack from predators such as crows or foxes.
Anne Elliott of Perthshire-based SNH said: “We are hugely encouraged by the dramatic changes in the way people with dogs are using Boat of Garten woods for recreation.
“These results show many dog walkers are now avoiding the area most sensitive for capercaillie in the breeding season, and others are taking extra efforts to keep their dogs under control.
“We know capercaillie have bred successfully in these woods in 2012 and 2013, so all credit to local dog walkers who have changed what they do and where they go to allow these charismatic birds to raise young with less disturbance.
“This research also has wider benefits. As far as we know, it’s the first time anyone in the UK has collected ‘before and after’ hard evidence to show how people have changed their recreational behaviour in the light of an awareness-raising campaign.”