Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
JOURNEY OF THE SALMON
One of Scotland's most thrilling sights is the salmon's leap up a fast-flowing cascade, resolutely returning to the
very river of its birth several years before. The salmon's life begins in early spring, hatching in a stretch of fresh
water in some Scottish glen. Called fry at this stage and only an inch long, it stays for a couple of years, growing
through the 'parr' stage to become smolt, when it heads out to sea.
Its destination could be anywhere in the North Atlantic, but it eventually, sometimes after several years, returns
home - scientists think it may use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate - to reproduce. Arriving all through the
year, but most commonly in late spring, salmon regain strength after the arduous journey and spawn in late au-
tumn. That job done, the salmon normally dies and the cycle begins anew.
Scotland's most famous salmon rivers are the Tweed, the Tay, the Dee, and the Spey, though you'll see them in
many smaller rivers throughout the country.
Birds
Scotland has an immense variety of birds. For birdwatchers, the Shetland Islands are para-
dise. Twenty-one of the British Isles' 24 seabird species are found here, breeding in huge
colonies, and being entertained by the puffins' clownish antics is a highlight.
Large numbers of grouse - a popular game
bird - graze the heather on the moors. The
ptarmigan (a type of grouse) is a native of the
hills, seldom seen below 700m, with the un-
usual feature of having feathered feet. It is the
only British bird that plays the Arctic trick of
changing its plumage from mottled brown in
summer to dazzling white in winter, to blend in with the snowfields. In heavily forested
areas you may see capercaillie, a black, turkey-like bird and the largest member of the
grouse family. Millions of greylag geese winter on Lowland stubble fields.
News on endangered Scottish birds has generally been positive in the last couple of
decades. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(RSPB;
www.rspb.org.uk
)
is active
here, and has overseen several success stories. As well as the reintroduction of species, the
population of several precariously placed bird species has stabilised.
The majestic osprey (absent for most of the
20th century) nests in Scotland from mid-
March through to September, after migrating
from West Africa. There are around 200 breed-
ing pairs and you can see nesting sites
throughout the country, including at Loch
Scottish Natural Heritage
(
www.snh.gov.uk
)
is the
government agency responsible for the conserva-
tion of Scotland's wildlife, habitats and landscapes.
A key initiative is to reverse biodiversity loss.
Seventeen per cent of Scotland is forested, com-
pared with England's 7%, Finland's 74% and a
worldwide average of 30%.
