A military base has created an ideal ‘dancefloor’ for a flamboyant mating display by the endangered black grouse.
The birds are taking to the firing range at Garelochhead Training Centre, where the short grassland offers an ideal location for the males to get their groove on with a unique mating dance called a ‘lek’.
From dawn, the ‘rookooing’ sound of the iconic Scottish birds’ mating calls can be heard echoing through the training centre and the surrounding uplands as the black grouse descend on the firing range.
The males come on to the short grass areas at dawn and dusk to shake their tail feathers – as well as engaging in the occasional spirited scuffle with rivals – in the mating dance.
The display is intended to attract females watching from the longer grass nearby.
The firing range, which sees personnel taking aim at targets from various distances, is a carefully mown area of grass maintained by DIO’s industry partner Landmarc Support Services.
It not only provides an ideal environment for live fire training, but has also proved an attractive habitat to black grouse at Garelochhead.
Lottie Birch, Defence Infrastructure Organisation ecologist (Scotland and Northern Ireland) said: “Protecting the environment and supporting nature recovery is a vital part of DIO’s role in managing the UK Defence Training Estate.
“Like many of our Scottish sites, Garelochhead Training Centre is an area of unique natural beauty and rich ecological diversity.
“While on first impression a military firing range might seem an unlikely habitat for wildlife, it’s no exaggeration to say that Garelochhead hosts the best black grouse dance floor in central Scotland!
“Through continued collaboration between DIO, Landmarc, and regional conservationists, we will continue to protect and conserve the diverse range of species that call the site home, while supporting military training activities.”
Despite finding a haven at Garelochhead, the black grouse is one of the fastest declining birds in the UK and is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.
Driven by climate change and changes in land management, the birds have been moving further north as their favourite upland heathland habitats become scarcer.
Their adoption of the Garelochhead range, which provides an ideal lekking habitat, is regarded as a positive step for black grouse conservation in the region.
To gain a detailed understanding of the various bird species across the training area, DIO and Landmarc commissioned a survey of breeding birds at Garelochhead Training Centre in 2023. It was conducted by John Simpson, a former M0D Police officer specialising in wildlife crime who today works as a full-time ornithologist with Wild Caledonia Wildlife Surveys.
In total, over 70 species were recorded during the survey, of which 48 species are believed to be breeding.
The data from the survey – including the birds’ conservation status, habitat requirements and land management requirements – is being used by DIO’s ecologists to help protect and maintain habitats across the training area, in careful balance with the site’s military training activities.
Bird species recorded at Garelochhead Training Centre include the osprey, sparrowhawk, Eurasian curlew, whinchat, grasshopper warbler and peregrine falcon, along with several species of owl.
Mr Simpson said: “After conducting a breeding bird survey for DIO and Landmarc, it soon became apparent that Garelochhead Training Centre is an exceptional site for nature.
“The diversity and population density of many species, some of which are of conservation concern, is superb.
“The survey has led to a collaborative and coordinated approach to land management in balance with military training activity.
“DIO’s Defence Training Estate and Ecology teams, along with regional conservationists, work proactively together at Garelochhead, balancing the needs of conservation and national defence requirements.
“The range provides a wonderful black grouse lekking area and coordinated action ensures that areas are protected to give the best chance of nesting success.”
Garelochhead Training Centre has been in use since the 1940s.
The camp covers approximately 3,320 hectares of moorland, forest and mountain rising from sea level to over 700m.
There’s Black Grouse along Barbour Road, better story!