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Introduction
This was a relatively poor year at the hide. A drop in badger sightings
and the resultant reluctance to try and entice people to come were probably
the most significant factors. All the same many of the visitors who
did come along had a wonderful wildlife experience, especially in Spring
and Autumn.
Television
Crews from BBC Springwatch came to the hide to assess its possible use
during the series but because there was so much else happening along
the Strath we were relegated to being a back up option only. Nevertheless
a series of pictures of a pine marten stealing goldeneye eggs from the
box near the hide was used in one of the programmes.
The Hide
The hide remains in good condition and no major works were carried out
this year. A folding ladder was acquired for ease of checking nest boxes
and it lives permanently in the hide.
The Badgers
The badgers bred successfully again this year, but the young did not
appear until the end of the summer. Presumably they were born elsewhere.
Goldeneye Ducks
Our ducks laid eggs in two of the three goldeneye boxes this year but
they were all stolen by a pine marten. However, one of the ducks laid
again and she raised a family of nine chicks.
Tawny Owls
For the second year running a pair of tawny owls took over the spare
goldeneye box. They laid three eggs and hatched two of them but only
raised one chick.
Pine Martens
We saw very little of the pine martens this year but we know they were
active from their signs and the loss of goldeneye eggs.
Users
After a better year in 2007 numbers dropped back again this season.
No special effort was made to address this because by the time the problem
came to light the badgers were not performing very well so it would
have felt slightly dishonest to try to attract more people.
The Statistics
| Year |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
Total
Visits |
65 |
123 |
74 |
112 |
124 |
129 |
116 |
105 |
96 |
Total
Visitors |
305 |
467 |
372 |
635 |
666 |
812 |
829 |
650
|
546 |
Most
badgers seen in one visit |
4 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
8
|
Total
badger sightings |
109 |
303 |
146 |
293 |
262 |
342 |
269 |
304 |
406
|
Average
badgers per night |
1.67 |
2.46 |
1.97 |
2.6 |
2.1 |
2.6 |
2.3
|
2.9
|
4.2
|
Nights
when no badgers were seen |
8 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
2
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2 |
As usual the most telling figure is the average number of badgers seen
per night. The figure dropped significantly this year, largely due to
the high proportion of blank nights. Most of the blanks occurred in
the middle of the season when the days are very long. This is typical
of other years and we are considering closing the hide from 1st June
to 15th July next season to avoid disappointment especially when badger
watching sessions involve such a late night at that time of year, often
not ending until well after midnight.
We can take some comfort from the fact that at least one other hide
in the area had an equally disappointing year in terms of mammal sightings
so we should not take matters too much to heart.
In addition to badgers at least 21 other species were seen from the
hide.
They included Barn Owl, Bats, Black Headed Gull, Brown Hare, Cuckoo,
Curlew, Dipper, Goldeneye Duck, Greylag Geese, Lapwing, Long Eared Owl,
Mallard, Moorhen, Otter, Oystercatcher, Roe Deer, Sandpiper, Tawny Owl,
Tree Creeper and Woodmouse
Money
Despite reduced numbers we were able to make another decent contribution
to Scottish Badgers. Any surplus goes to the Boat of Garten
Wildlife Group under whose umbrella the hide functions.
Thanks
Finally my thanks go to all those who have contributed to the continued
success of the hide. I am especially grateful to the Birkbeck family
who own the land and the Cruickshank family who farm the fields, without
whose indulgence we would not be able to offer such a wonderful wildlife
experience to members of the public.
Allan Bantick
Honorary Manager, Strathspey Badger Hide, November 2008
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