Wildlife Road Casualties

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Written by Gus Jones

Category: Debates

Published: 02 November 2013

Warnings have been given about traffic accidents involving deer see http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/highland-motorists-warned-of-deer-collisions-risk-1-3158107. It is not just deer that fall victim to busier roads and roads without safe crossing places. In Badenoch and Strathspey we have a special responsibility for some species that are vulnerable to road traffic accidents. These include wild cat which is critically endangered in Scotland and otters which are one of the features of the River Spay and Tributaries Special Area of Conservation. More frequently observed victims include red squirrel and badger. The full casualty list is long and includes brown hare, pine marten, stoats, toads and newts. Birds include adults and chicks of waders such as oystercatchers and lapwings. Young barn owls are particularly vulnerable to busy main roads see http://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/infopage.html?Id=180. Also at night bats foraging near minor roads can also be hit.

This year BSCG has raised concerns with politicians and senior CNPA staff about escalating road kills. For example we mentioned this problem to the parliamentary species champion for the brown hare, Alison Johnstone MSP, alerting her that there will be a predictable and potentially very serious, increased mortality risk for brown hares in the Carrbridge and Rothiemurchus - An Cama Mor area if controversial developments are allowed. Road mortality might be contributing to an apparent decline of brown hares in Badenoch that has already been reported to BSCG.

Brown Hare on Carr Road near Carrbridge. Controversial new housing would add to traffic on this quiet and exceptionally wildlife-rich minor road, increasing the toll of wading birds, hares and other protected wildlife.

Brown hare on the B970, the 'back road' between Boat of Garten and Coylumbridge. As well as brown hare, otter,red squirrel, badger,pine marten and even wildcat mortality will inevitably increase if the An Camas Mor new town development beside the B970 goes ahead.

Otters and wildcat typically cross roads at night when they can be difficult for drivers to see unfortunately signs alone cannot eliminate mortality.

Female capercaillie. Ground nesting birds like capercaillie are vulnerable to opportunistic egg predators like crows and gulls, whose numbers may increase where extra food is provided by road kills.

Research on barn owls has shown that road deaths are greatest on young owls and affect ones that have escaped mortality from other causes such starvation.

BSCG Welcomes Minister's Economic Growth "U-turn"

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Written by Gus Jones

Category: Debates

Published: 15 September 2013

Alison Johnstone, Parliamentary Species Champion for the Brown Hare, has described the U-turn as a "small victory".

BSCG welcomes the Scottish Government's confirmation that they have decided to exempt the planning system from a duty to contribute to economic growth.

On 11 September 2013 Fergus Ewing (local MSP and Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism) wrote in a letter to the Convener of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee Murdo Fraser MSP:

"we are minded to bring forward a Stage 2 amendment that will make it clear that the planning functions of a local authority are not subject to the proposed duty to contribute to sustainable economic growth."

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_EconomyEnergyandTourismCommittee/Bills/Fergus_Ewing_response_130906_-_MurdoFraserMSP.pdf

BSCG, with others, has long been concerned at the Government's over-emphasis on economic growth.

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP and Species Champion for the Brown Hare, commented that the duty could have become a "developer's charter" and that "this u-turn is a small victory."

Swallow makes unexpected history in 300 year Old Kirk

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Written by Gus Jones

Category: Birds

Published: 20 July 2013

An unexpected visitor put in an appearance at an evening talk in one of Nethybridge’s most well known buildings last Friday. The visitor an adventurous young swallow flew in through the open door during a public talk entitled 'Spiders in the web of life in the Cairngorms'. This illustrated talk by David Holloway of the Highland Spider Group was in the historic old kirk building on the outskirts of the village on the B970 near Castle Roy that is now looked after by the Old Kirk Association see http://www.oldkirknethybridge.org/

The old kirk has been the venue for a drop in exhibition on special wildlife of the Cairngorms organized by BSCG under the theme ‘Problems in Paradise’. Coinciding with the Year of Natural Scotland this has been celebrating some of the special and threatened wildlife of the Cairngorms. It showcases information on the top 26 list of species in the Cairngorms that the national park authority announced in May this year it has identified as in need of focussed conservation action in its 2013 – 2018 Cairngorms Nature Action Plan or CNAP. The CNAP successor to the 2002 Cairngorms Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) was launched by cabinet Secretary Richard Lochead in Aviemore in May over 10 years after the LBAP.

By overnighting in the rafters of the kirk it seems the young swallow made history. The visit for the youngster finally ended the following morning after the doors in the building were reopened when to mutual relief the swallow at last figured out a way to freedom by flying low enough to exit through a specially opened side door in the building. Our thanks are due to the Old kirk Association who kindly showed up to open up the building after the young swallow's unscheduled overnight stay.

The 'Problems in Paradise' exhibition continues until Tuesday in the Old Kirk when it will be open between midday and 5pm. The concluding talk, the 4th this month will be by Dr Tim Poole and is the first to concentrate entirely on a species in the top 26 list that includes 3 birds It is entitled 'The Capercaillie a flagship for Scotland’s pinewoods' and is scheduled for 8Pm on Monday 22nd July. Admission is free refreshment will also be available and all are welcome but hopefully no swallows will be reappearing inside the building.

Reintroductions of Animals (Vertebrates) in the News

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Written by Gus Jones

Category: Species

Published: 19 July 2013

A Report by CNPA Ecologist Dr David Hetherington (released by the CNPA on 7 July 2013) is making news. See:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-23348628

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-23343202

http://cairngorms.co.uk/resource/docs/publications/...

BSCG welcomes the release of this report yet remains highly concerned that the Park Authority is failing to properly look after the important species and habitats that are key features of the Cairngorms today. Regrettably, the Park Authority is still approving and allocating controversial developments that impact on Scotland's most endangered species such as wildcat, capercaillie and freshwater pearl mussel. Nearly half of the species in the 2013 Cairngorms Nature Action Plan Top 26 list of species in need of urgent conservation action, stand to be impacted on in this way. The Cairngorms National Park supports 25% of the UK's threatened animal and plant species as well as 25% of Scotland's native woodlands.

BSCG exhibition & 4 public talks

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Written by Tessa Jones

Category: Meetings

Published: 03 July 2013

Download poster for Friday 19 July and Monday 22 July.

BSCG is holding an exhibition about the National Park's Nature Action Plan and the 'Top 26' species that are singled out for conservation action. This is at the Old Kirk at Nethybridge, by Castle Roy, and is from 12.00-5pm on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from the 14 - 23 July. Teas and refreshments available.

Also, to coincide with this we are having 4 evening illustrated talks, also at the Old Kirk starting at 8pm.

These are: 

• Wednesday 10 July Wonderful Wood ants of the Cairngorms by Hayley Wiswell
• Wednesday 17 July Amazing Woodlandss of the Cairngorms and their Wildlife by Stewart Taylor
• Friday 19 July Spiders in the Web of Life in the Cairngorms by Dave Holloway
• Monday 22 July Capercaillie in the Cairngorms by Tim Poole, RSPB.

The exhibition and talks are all free and open to everyone.