WATCH: Birders apologise to camera for disturbing protected capercaillie in Strathspey
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Two birders have issued an apology and have said they are better educated now after being caught at a lekking site in the strath.
The two men were found and recorded near lek sites over the Easter weekend.
They were spoken to by Cairngorms National Park rangers and the police were also involved with the incident.
Cairngorm Nature has published the video as part of the #LekitBe campaign and declared: 'They’re now more informed'.
One of the birders Wayne Glossop said on Twitter he and his friend named as Anthony 'mutually agreed to educate and deliver a message'.
He said: "This is what the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project believed was the right approach in this instance.
"CCTV is everywhere, which is brilliant and I really hope caper can be recovered to a state when I first saw a caper 20 years ago at Loch Garten so all can enjoy."
He also tweeted: "Capers need all the help they can get, and today's experience is not one I would want anyone to be involved in.
"The stress levels of these birds are at the highest during this time of year.
"Please don't do what I did. Even sticking to paths isn't doing them any favours."
One social media StuartII responded on Twitter: "Being brutally honest, I don't think we should be excusing wildlife crime with an apology.
"I've called for harsher sentences for bird of prey persecution and whenever that occurs there is rightly outrage.
"Disturbance of caper is a species-level issue and it is being shrugged off."
But Greg McIvor said: "Fair play to them for owning their error and sharing it publicly. Takes some character."
A spokeswoman for the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project told the Strathy: "The birdwatchers were caught on CCTV camera at a capercaillie lek.
"Cairngorms National Park Authority staff passed this information on to Police Scotland who, as the appropriate authority, then decided the proper course of action.
"This resulted in police officers giving suitable advice to the birdwatchers."
