Fearsfor future of rare seabird
It is feared one of Scotland’s rarest seabirds could become extinct as a breeding species here after a report revealed the population has crashed by 81% in the last 35 years.
The decline in arctic skuas is revealed in Naturescot’s latest biodiversity indicator.
While overall seabird numbers fell by 49% between 1986 and 2019, the Arctic skua shows the steepest decline.
Arctic skuas are known as the pirates of the seabird world because they steal food from other seabirds. They take advantage of the diving skills of the other creatures to catch small fish such as sandeels, before giving chase until the pursued bird drops its meal.
The decline has been linked to reductions in sandeels and increased predation from great skuas. A decline in kittiwakes may also be a factor as they are among the primary sources for arctic skuas to obtain their food.
Simon Foster of Naturescot said: “Some of what we are seeing might be related to changes in sandeel numbers affecting kittiwakes in the Northern Isles.
“The declines we have seen have been marked and the population is now very low compared to what it was. It is not impossible at all that the population may stop breeding.”