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Keen conservationists are hoping that the black grouse population on Arran will soar once more as nine recently imported males were released into the wild on the island last week.
The birds, which were brought to the island by the Arran Black Grouse Group, the National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, have been electronically tagged so that their movements can be tracked during their first breeding season on the island.
Kate Sampson, National Trust for Scotland senior ranger, said: ‘We want the birds to get the best possible start in their new life on Arran, so we are taking all the steps we can to keep their stress levels to a minimum when they are released. It is important that they can be freed with as little fuss as possible.
‘I know that we will all be keeping a close eye on the tracking devices to see how the birds are doing in their first few weeks and months, and will have our fingers crossed for a successful breeding season.’
Fourteen pairs were recently brought to the island as part of a planned reintroduction programme. Black grouse were once common on Arran’s peaks, but had all but disappeared.
The main reasons thought to have contributed to the decline of black grouse throughout Scotland include: loss of habitat through intensive sheep grazing, agricultural improvements, changes in agricultural practices; overshooting; and increased numbers of predators such as foxes, especially where black grouse numbers are already low.
Arran is an ideal habitat for the black grouse as there are no foxes.
The newly released males will have time to establish territories before the female birds are released.
Graeme Walker, Scottish Natural Heritage Area Officer said: ‘It's great to be backing this community project and, after a lot of hard work from everyone involved, see it get to the stage where these special and distinctive birds are back where they belong.’
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