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The Herald Scotland

Consultation launched to help protect rare birds at Highland loch

Supported by The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), NatureScot and the Local Access Forum, the consultation will run until Friday May 16 and invites feedback on potential guidance asking visitors not to canoe, paddleboard or swim at the east end of the loch between March 1 and August 31. Since 2020, an increase in water sports on the loch has led to more incidents of disturbance during the breeding season, when Slavonian grebes build hidden nests in reeds and swim out onto the open water to find food. READ MORE: Scottish island awarded Global Geopark status by UNESCO Loch Lomond rainforest project receives cash boost Wildlife body warns over progress on nature recovery The entire UK breeding population of Slavonian grebes is usually found on lochs within 30 miles of Inverness and has fallen from a peak of around 80 breeding pairs in the early 1990s to only 15 in 2023. At Loch Ruthven, the number of breeding pairs has dropped to just three in 2024. It is hoped that by reducing noise and movement on the loch, the birds would be more likely to achieve a successful breeding season preventing further decline in numbers. The consultation is being hosted by The Highland Council, the local Access Authority with duties and powers to help manage outdoor access rights in their area. For more information on the consultation and to share your views, please visit: Consultation on Local Access Guidance for Loch Ruthven