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After an absence of more than 40 years the black grouse has winged its way back onto Arran.
The black grouse was wiped out on Arran despite being abundant in the early 1900s when it was classed as vermin by farmers, owing to its knack of destroying corn crops.
But now, The Arran Black Grouse Group, consisting of ornithologists through to shooting enthusiasts, has brought over three pairs from Aberdeen to West Glen Sherraig Farm, Glen Rosa, for breeding.
But it will be at least three years until the Arran black grouse can be left to breed outwith captivity.
To raise awareness of the bird’s reintroduction an open day was held on Sunday for islanders to come and see the six birds.
Group member Andrew Fletcher said at the open day: ‘The real work starts now; this is just the beginning.
‘Assuming the three males are all ‘functioning’ we will be looking to get 10 to 20 eggs per pair next spring. We are aware not all the young birds will survive but most will go on to multiply further.
‘I think we will need to release between 50 and 100 every year for five or six years and we hope that over the next 10 years there will be a significant number out there to keep the population going.
‘We have learnt, from mainland projects similar to ours, that we will lose 70 per cent of what we release to predators but there are no foxes here so that gives us the upper hand.’
The black grouse was last recorded on Arran in the 1960s and it is unclear why numbers dwindled so quickly. Most point to the changes in farming practice, which destroyed many suitable habitats, while others will suggest predation was a main factor.
However The Arran Black Grouse Group is confident now is the time to reintroduce the bird as these habitats have grown back.
And while black grouse are still on game shooting lists, the shooting of these birds will not be an issue, according to the group. Group member Rab Logan, who first mooted the idea of reintroducing black grouse 10 years ago, said: ‘We will be actively discouraging the shooting of these birds.’
Stewart Lambie, and his son of the same name, run West Glen Sherraig Farm, where the breeding birds will be kept.
Stewart junior, a member of the group, said there were once so many black grouse on Arran that 2,000 – 3,000 would be shot per year, around the turn of last century.
He added: ‘The area we have set aside for them is secure with no traffic coming past. Projects like ours focus people’s attention on the changes to our countryside and this will be a change for the better.’
Brodick’s Hugh Hamilton, with the assistance of 12-year-old James McAleer, will be looking after the birds while they are in captivity.
At the open day Mr Logan said: ‘James will be helping Hugh to look after the birds. James is the next generation and hopefully that generation will take this project on.’
The group passed on its thanks to match-funders Scottish Natural Heritage and to everyone who took part in its raffle at the Arran Farmers’ Show. Bob Haddow was the winner of the draw and gets a black grouse painting.
