RSPB Scotland's Abernethy Forest Nature Reserve had the best capercaillie breeding season for 13 years in 2009.
It is hoped this will provide a significant boost to the numbers of the rare iconic bird after a series of very poor breeding seasons and a decline in spring counts at leks (communal display grounds) across much of the birds Scottish range.
Brood counts at the RSPB's flagship reserve using specially-trained dogs in late July recorded 1.5 chicks per hen. Elsewhere some other estates also ...
