Scottish seabird numbers plunging

THE numbers of seabirds from kittiwakes to fulmars have plummeted in Scotland over the past decade, new research has shown.

• Nesting Kittiwakes

Statistics reveal that in the UK between 1999 and 2009 the number of fulmars, a gull-like bird related to the albatross that lives mainly in coastal parts of Scotland, dropped by 38 per cent.

Over the same period kitti-wake numbers fell by 40 per cent and herring gulls, which are becoming an increasingly common sight around towns and cities, declined by 43 per cent.

The Arctic skua, a dark seabird that only breeds in north and west Scotland in the UK and is on the Red List of species of conservation concern, saw its population plummet by 33 per cent.

Numbers of lesser black-backed gulls, the slightly smaller cousin of the herring gull, fell by 31 per cent during the ten years covered by the report.

The data was put together by the Aberdeen branch of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), which advises the UK and devolved governments on nature conservation.

Conservation groups warned the statistics raised fresh concerns about Scotland's internationally important seabirds.

The new figures, in a report "Population Trends and Causes of Change 2010", are for the UK as a whole, but most of the seabird species monitored are found largely or solely in Scotland.

Dr Matt Parsons, seabird monitoring programme co-ordinator at the JNCC, said the declines were a worry.

"The changes that have happened since the last census really do suggest there is something going on that affects a lot of species," he said.

"There do seem to be some changes related to climate change that are having widespread impacts and causing some very worrying trends."

Research suggests that changes in sea temperature could be leading to reductions in plankton, with a knock-on impact on sand eels and other creatures relied on by seabirds for food.

Dr Parsons said other concerns include the impact of fisheries on food supplies, the spread of diseases — such as botulism, which herring gulls can catch by feeding at rubbish dumps — and the impact of invasive non-native predators such as rats and mink that feed on eggs and chicks.

Doug Gilbert, RSPB Scotland reserves ecologist, said their own monitoring of breeding performances reflect similarly worrying trends, particularly in the Northern Isles.

"On Orkney, kittiwakes seem to be really struggling, with many abandoned nests, nests with dead chicks and nests built but nothing in them," he said.

"Likewise, Arctic terns throughout Orkney and Shetland have found it hard to raise any chicks, and many did not even attempt to breed this year, when thousands of pairs would normally nest in colonies such as RSPB's Mousa and North Hill reserves."

Similarly, in Tiree off the west coast of Scotland, fewer than half the kittiwakes laid any eggs, he said. However, colonies in the north-east, such as at Troup Head and Fowlsheugh, are doing well so far this season.

Mr Gilbert agreed the most likely cause for the declines was lack of food, especially for species that feed on sandeels.