When capercaillie first became extinct in Scotland in the late 1700s, their disappearance was blamed on destruction of the native pine forests and excess hunting. This iconic species the biggest grouse in the world was successfully reintroduced to Perthshire in the early 19th century, and by 1900 capers were widespread throughout the Highlands. Numbers peaked during World War I, reaching around 20,000 birds, and it wasn’t until the 1970s that the first concerns were voiced about falling numbers. Few estates continued to shoot caper, but the bird remained legal quarry until 2001, when it was finally added to Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. However, such protection did little to help, and the current estimate is that the population is now around 500 birds and still declining. Rarity makes the capercaillie an alluring target for birdwatchers and photographers, and a major challenge for conservationists now is stopping human disturbance at the leks last year
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: The Coronation, now just three weeks away, will be seen by many as a display of splendid pageantry and tradition - and by critics as a blast of flummery and fanfare.