Seabird populations plummet after country hit by cold spring

WHILE SCOTLAND enjoys a sizzling summer its seabirds are still feeling the effects of the coldest spring in more than 50 years as their numbers decline.

Experts have branded declining colony counts on Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reserves across Scotland following the harsh weather conditions earlier this year as “scary”.

Seabird counts on some sites around Orkney indicate an 87% reduction in the number of kittiwakes compared with counts in 2000.

Razorbills are down 57% from 2,228 in 2000 to just 966 in 2013 and guillemots have declined by 46% during the same period.

Seabird counts on Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde suggest a poor season for species like guillemot, razorbill and kittiwakes, with the latter declining by 70% since 2000.

The cold spring added to the considerable long-term challenges seabirds face including lack of food due to the impact of climate change on the marine food chain, and poor management of human activities in the marine environment.

Doug Gilbert, head of reserves ecology for RSPB Scotland, said: “The numbers so far are really scary.

“Orkney again is being hit badly, as it was last year.

“Although this may just be a temporary effect because of the bad spring weather, the underlining trend for many years now has been downward.

“The late season will certainly not help in the race to turn the fortunes of seabirds around before it is too late.

“There are exceptions such as puffin numbers on the Isle of May but even here, many birds are reported as being in poor condition and unlikely to breed successfully.”

The charity has called for the Scottish Government to designate Marine Protected Areas for seabirds.

Allan Whyte, of RSPB Scotland, said: “Giving seabirds the protection they deserve can help boost resilience in their declining population and allow them to recover after many poor breeding seasons.”

Picture: PA. Puffin numbers have increased on the Isle of May.