Berchtesgaden (dpa/lby) - During the mating season, it was a popular photo motif for locals and guests for years - and was therefore known far beyond the borders of the Berchtesgaden National Park. Now the "Klausbachtal-Auerhahn" is dead. On Monday, the bird was found injured on Hirschbichlstraße, which was closed to public traffic, near the Bindalm and died shortly thereafter, as the national park announced.
"He sat on the street in a daze," said National Park spokeswoman Carolin Scheiter. Fresh traces of blood from the bird were found on the asphalt. What exactly happened is unclear. Only authorized persons are allowed to drive motor vehicles on the road, as well as cyclists.
In the spring of 2020, the capercaillie survived being shot at by a stranger with a crossbow arrow. National park employees were able to rush to the bird's aid and remove the arrow.
Several grouse live in the national park. However, this behaved "very visibly" during the mating season, said Scheiter. "He was incredibly present and let people get very close to him." What made him a popular photo motif.
