Rangers’ Review By Graeme Auty
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Spring Cleans Gareth and I, along with national park volunteers, and a group of volunteers from International Development Scotland based in Glasgow, have once again been out in the area helping to collect some of the loc side litter which has accumulated over the winter months. Over two days at the end of March the group collected a total of 75 bags of litter from the eastern side of Loch Lubnaig, clocking up a total of 126 hours volunteer time. The following week a smaller group of national park volunteers took part in a similar task around the eastern end of Loch Earn collecting a total of 34 bags. Ospreys Return The recent good weather has seen the return of many of our ospreys, with several birds already seen diving feet first for fish in Loch Earn as well as Lochs Lubnaig and Venachar. These fascinating birds spend the winter in Africa before migrating back here to breed in the spring, often returning to the same nest year after year. Ospreys differ in several ways from other large birds of prey, they are able to close their nostrils when plunging into the cold waters of our Lochs and they also have a rather unusual reversible outer toe which helps them to catch and hold wet slippery fish then carry them back to a nearby perch or nest. Invasives update I and the national park’s volunteers involved in the Breadalbane Invasive Plants Project have now completed our PA1 & PA6AW pesticide training and assessment. All the equipment necessary to carry out the chemical treatment of the invasive Japanese knotweed has now been purchased. May will be one of the busiest months for this project as this is the prime time to carry out the first chemical treatment, the plants are actively growing but not so tall to make spraying difficult. Survey work is still ongoing and new stands of the weed are turning up all the time, especially around Loch Earn. Again if you have any of these invasive plants on your land and would like to get rid of them please let us know. If you want to know more about the project or what to do if you have knotweed on your land please contact me on the number at the end. 14
Knotweed - evil alien monster from hell
As usual, if we are around at the Lochearnhead Office, please feel free to drop in, or to call Gareth or myself if you have any queries, wildlife sightings or just for a catch up. Thanks to all those that have let us know of some of the interesting wildlife sightings recently in particular several sightings of nuthatches in the area plus some very interesting signs of beaver activity on the River Earn near Comrie. Gareth is in most days but I am part time and am on duty Thursdays and Fridays. You can call me on 01389 722115 or on my mobile 07764371700 or alternatively you can email me on graeme.auty@ lochlomond-trossachs.org or Gareth at gareth.kett@lochlomond-trossachs.org.
Have you tried our takeaway pizzas yet?