Unusual opportunity to see - and own - a capercaillie. Trouble is that this particular bird is now lifeless

Capercaillie - stuffed specimen to be auctioned this week

IN these days of habitat loss and cooler weather in spring, capercaillies have become so rare that they are seldom to be seen except at a few top-secret locations in Scotland.

But later this week a stuffed and mounted specimen will go under the hammer at auction in North Yorkshire.

The catalogue note describes the item thus: "A large-cased Western Capercaillie, circa 2002, by John Burton, Natural Craft Taxidermy, Ebrington, Gloucester.

"This is a superb quality large adult cock bird, with head turning to the left and tail fanned, stood upon a large partially buried tree section amidst a natural setting of pine branches and heather, set upon soil covered groundwork, enclosed beneath a large lead framed bespoke made five-glass table display case, supported upon a wooden base (76.5cm by 58.5cm by 68.5cm)."

The pre-sale estimate is that the bird will fetch between £350 and £550.

Also in the sale are other  seldom-seen species including a family group of corncrakes ( circa 1880-1900), a pair of stone curlews (early 20th Century) and a nightjar (1996).

The auction is being conducted by specialist firm Tennants at The Auction Centre in London on Wednesday August 7, starting at 10.30am.    

                                                    

Corncrake family - guide price: £200-300

 

Stone curlews - guide price: £300-£400 

Nightjar - guide price £250-£350

The Wryneck says: Tennants is a highly-respected firm of auctioneers, so these scarce species will doubtless have come in to their hands by a legal and reputable route, perhaps dead birds that have been taken to a taxidermist after having been picked up by the wayside.  There is a  fascination about viewing these birds whose life-stories will never be known. But it is a macabre and  discomforting experience. Who would want to live with one sitting on a sideboard, hung on a wall or on a table next to the TV?  It might even be preferable to have a pet budgie - at least it would be alive. As the great naturalist, W.H. Hudson, once observed, it is surely the life of the bird that counts - not the corpse.