Wildlife & Conservation
Visitors to Balmoral Estate now able to see rare Capercaillie mating ritual
The elusive mating ritual of one of our most endangered birds can now be seen without any risk of disturbance thanks to a new visitor attraction on Balmoral Estate. The capercaillie lek is one of nature’s wonders, where the turkey-sized males square up to each other to prove to a hen that they are a…
Read MoreExtremely rare moss rediscovered near Edinburgh
An extremely rare moss has been rediscovered near Edinburgh, having not been found anywhere else in the UK since 1987. Round-leaved bryum has been found at Threipmuir Reservoir near Balerno, Edinburgh, thanks to a collaboration between NatureScot and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Scientists have been rewarded after a 13-year wait to see one of Scotland’s…
Read MoreBeavers to be released at UK’s biggest national park
Beavers are set to be released at sites in the UK’s biggest national park. NatureScot has approved a licence application for six beaver families to be released in the Cairngorms National Park. Sites in the upper River Spey catchment have been selected for beavers despite some farmers raising concerns about the beavers damaging crops. NatureScot…
Read MoreCharity fund launched for ‘Britain’s loneliest sheep’
A fund has been set up for Britain’s Loneliest sheep in aid of RSABI and the Scottish SPCA after the ewe was rescued from the foot of cliffs in the Highlands. More than £10,000 has already been raised for the Fiona Fund, which was set up by the farmers involved in her rescue. Fiona stole…
Read MoreRemote fragment of ancient Caledonian pinewood restored
A remote fragment of Scotland’s ancient Caledonian pinewood in Sutherland has been restored thanks to two decades of effort. This globally unique habitat can only be found in the Scottish Highlands. It provides a home for a wide variety of rare and specialised species, including pine martens, conifer specialists like crossbills and red squirrels, as…
Read MoreWorld’s first interactive enrichment system for giraffes made in Scotland
A world first interactive enrichment system for giraffes has been developed in Scotland. Meeting the needs of giraffes is a longstanding challenge for zookeepers, not least because giraffes sleep differently from many other mammals. Instead of resting for hours overnight, they take frequent brief naps whenever they choose to, sleeping for less than 30 minutes…
Read MoreThe largest gannet colony in the world at Bass rock has shrunk by 30%
The largest gannet colony in the world has shrunk by 30% since 2014, research has revealed. The Bass Rock colony was hit by avian flu in June last year, at the height of the gannet breeding season. The colony was devastated by the disease, with thousands of seabirds dying on the island, resulting in an…
Read MoreSignificant rise in Corncrake numbers recorded by RSPB Scotland
Corncrake numbers in Scotland have seen their first rise in five years, an RSPB Scotland survey can reveal. This year 870 calling males of these shy rare birds were recorded by the nature conservation charity, up from 828 the previous year. This takes Scotland’s Corncrake population back to levels not seen since 2019. While still…
Read MoreA week in the life: a Scottish country vet
Few people really know what the life of a country vet actually looks like. From going out on site, visiting clients and pioneering forward-thinking research, no day is the same. We go behind the scenes with gamebird vet Dr Matthew Balfour, from St David’s Game Bird Services in Scotland, who takes us through a week…
Read MoreLoch Arkaig osprey spotted at nature reserve in France
A Scottish osprey from Loch Arkaig has been spotted at an idyllic nature reserve in France. Lochaber-raised Ludo has been at The Bay of St Brieuc National Park in Brittany since 24 September where delighted local birdwatchers have been photographing him as he hunts. Woodland Trust Scotland has been operating a livestreaming nest camera following…
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