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1 Helensburgh Local Group Scotland Scotland NEWSLETTER NO. 184, SPRING 2019 Group Leader Newsletter Editor John Clark, Laighfield, Alistair McIntyre, Craggan, Station Road, Shandon, G84 8NX Garelochhead, G84 0EJ Dear Member the pair were joined briefly in springtime by several other Canada geese, and even a barnacle goose I wonder if you have ever come across any or two, but such comings together had been unusual friendships within the avian world? As transitory affairs. In fact, a few days earlier, when soon as I type that question, I realise that driving round to Rosneath, I'd spotted the white friendship is very much a human construct: goose, and out of the corner of my eye, thought I'd perhaps the term association might be more glimpsed a couple of Canada geese as well. accurate. I don't have in mind a family grouping, nor am I thinking of the likes of imprinting, whereby I have a vague recollection of being told something birds such as goose hatchlings will adopt as of the story of the very large white goose many surrogate parent even a human, under the right years ago- if memory serves me right, there was conditions, as made famous through the something about a connection with a wildfowl experiments conducted by Konrad Lorenz. I also collection . It may be that you know the bird, and exclude artificial avian relationships that are down something about its provenance. If so, I for one to direct human intervention. would be most interested in any background information. Whatever its history, the white goose What I have in mind is a remarkable relationship certainly impresses me as a born survivor, well that existed over many years between a swan- able to survive without human intervention, and I sized white goose and a Canada goose. They cannot but help having a real respect for such a were habitually to be seen together near the head quality. Long may it continue to grace our shores! of the Gareloch at all times of the year until Will it come by a new companion, now that the old recently. Well, you may respond, they are both one has gone? Watch this space! geese, and after all, birds of a feather flock together, as the saying goes. That is true, but Incidentally, my informant also mentioned that nevertheless, visually at least, they did look like several years ago, he had witnessed a creche of the ultimate odd couple, given the disparity in size 19 eider chicks out on the Loch being targeted by and general appearance. a number of herring gulls, with the result that all the chicks were taken. Of course, I only have his Just the other day, I was talking to someone word for what he claims to have occurred, whose house is located close to the water's edge, although I have no reason to doubt his sincerity. giving him a grandstand view of the Loch and all As Chris Waltho has made clear in the course of the goings on. I happened to remark to him that as several talks to the Group on the fortunes of the we spoke, I could see the white goose by the eider duck, their numbers have indeed taken a big shore some way off, but had recently failed to spot tumble in recent decades. the Canada goose companion. His response was that one evening, some months earlier, he had Yours sincerely heard a terrible noise and commotion on the foreshore, and had subsequently come to the Alistair McIntyre conclusion that what he had heard was the death of the Canada goose, most likely through the actions of a fox, as the bird was no longer to be seen. He went on to mention that in some years, 2 SOUTH OF SCOTLAND GOLDEN EAGLE RED SQUIRREL ALERT PROJECT In last summer's Newsletter, I referred to several Did you know that as part of a £1.3 million pound recent sightings of red squirrels on the Rosneath project, three young golden eagles were released Peninsula by other people, and one by myself near in the South of Scotland last summer, in a bid to Glenmallan Jetty. This was my first sighting ever of boost eagle numbers in that part of the country? I a red in our home beat. I reported these sightings certainly didn't, until I read about it in a magazine to the Scottish Wildlife Trust, which is running the the other day. The birds, comprising a male known “Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels” campaign. as Edward, and two females, known as Beaky and Emily, were taken from the Central Highlands. The translocated birds were kept for two months in a custom-built aviary to acclimatise them before release into the countryside. It is good to report that all three birds are alive and well. Edward spends a lot of time at a rabbit warren he has discovered. Beaky is thriving, although she remains fairly close to the release site, while Emily has moved some way south of the release site, where she has a number of favourite hunting and roosting sites. There are reckoned to be around 500 pairs of golden eagles in the U.K. , the vast majority of which are to be found in the Scottish Highlands. The South of Scotland has historically been a place where the relationship between eagles and people has sadly been very much to the detriment of this iconic species. Indeed, well-known naturalist Chris Packham has described the move as “a perilous thing to do”. It is a tough call: everyone who cares about our wildlife must earnestly hope that the trial will succeed, while being conscious that there are people out there who will try to kill birds of prey, given the opportunity. I'm sure we all applaud the principle of restoring a species to its historic place, but only if there's a reasonable chance of survival. Eagles of course are not the only species at risk in this way. Red squirrel, by j Busby The hope is that if the birds do survive, further I received a most helpful reply, in which the translocations may be made over the next few Scottish Wildlife Trust confirmed they too had years. received a number of reports of recent sightings on the Peninsula. They were also able to back up what I'd mentioned to them about the spread of pine martens, and their alleged preferential targeting of greys. In fact, they referred me to a recent scholarly article to add weight to that view. A few days ago, I was speaking to someone who told me she had seen a small dark squirrel on the road to Arrochar, which she thought could only have been a red squirrel, reinforcing the supposition that reds are definitely staging something of a comeback. Not so long ago, I met with someone who lives at Rosneath, and who does a lot of volunteering with Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, as well as at Peaton Hill Nature Reserve. He has a keen interest in wildlife, needless to add. I asked him if he had come across any evidence of reds in Golden eagle, by J Busby this area. He told me that he hadn't been fortunate in that respect, but what had struck him was the 3 absence of greys around the Peninsula. I've borne round the corner in the back garden. So he is this in mind, and have been struck by the lack of ideally placed for a quick meal. The basket greys in my own garden this year- I reckon I've provides a handy plucking post, and I can check only seen one, where in the past, I'd have what he has eaten- mostly tits, but the odd expected up to half a dozen on a good day. In goldfinch gets unlucky. consequence, it would appear to be worthwhile keeping a look-out yourselves for any changes, I have tried to convince myself that he would take whether the lack of greys, or, better still, any birds from my neighbours, or the woods, anyway, sightings of reds. If you are fortunate in that but to see him there, glaring back at me, unmoved respect, it would be great to have a few details for unless I am within the 10 feet, is hard. And to clear the Newsletter. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is also the feathers 3 or 4 times a day is getting me down. very keen to have information of this kind passed on to them. I have a bin full of various bird foods which are not going to be eaten this season. So I am saving on that, but I'd rather he moved away and let “my” birds feed. There are no birds on the feeders for most of the day, until a bird which doesn't understand why the feeders are empty flies in to its doom. I assume he must be feeding his mate, which is sitting on a nest. Hence he needs plenty of wee birds for her. It's a bird lover's dilemma, and it's testing me!.....anybody like a sparrow hawk? Flora Leckie Pine marten, by J Busby RSPB LOCH LOMOND WORK PARTIES. Please bear in mind that a regular programme of work-parties continues at the RSPB Reserve at Wards Farm, near Gartocharn. As well as helping to build on the good work already carried out, attendance at these events gives you the opportunity to meet a wide variety of interesting like-minded people, in a healthy outdoor environment.

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