Climate Change Fears As Birds Vanish

SOME of Scotland’s most important bird species are being driven out by climate change, an expert warned yesterday.

The numbers of lapwing, dunlin and curlew found in the country’s uplands have sharply declined, latest figures show.

The lapwing population suffered the biggest fall in numbers, plummeting by 60-80 per cent in Caithness and southern regions.

The curlew has experienced a big decrease in the south of the country and Sutherland by 57 per cent.

The dunlin is already quite rare north of the Border but its numbers declined by 43 per cent in Caithness and other areas.

The findings were reported by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds which surveyed upland bird populations.

Experts believe climate change and acid rain may be partly to blame for the reversal in the fortunes of the species.

RSPB spokesman Rob Tomlinson warned yesterday that the situation could be made worse by a 234-turbine wind farm proposed for the Isle of Lewis.

He said: ‘The key thing these results have shown is that three particular wading birds are in decline and we need to look into ways to try to help them.

‘Many of these birds are commonly found on Lewis where a wind farm has been proposed and so there could be a very big concern there for these species.’

He added: ‘Lewis provides very good unspoilt habitat and the wind farm will mean the birds could be under threat even more.’

The charity’s survey is the largest ever conducted in the British uplands and it counted birds in 13 upland areas, from the Outer Hebrides to Exmoor in Devon.

RSPB researcher Innes Sim said: ‘This study has given us a snapshot of changes in upland bird populations over the last ten to 20 years. It suggests that several species of conservation concern, in particular dunlin, curlew, lapwing and ring ouzel, are in sharp decline.’

Despite the decline Mr Sim described a reported large increase in whinchat and stonechat numbers as ‘encouraging’.

He added: ‘Species like golden plover and dunlin are doing well on Lewis where the population of such birds is facing a serious threat from the planned wind farm.’

Mr Sim said the RSPB would now try to establish why the population changes had taken place and was devising conservation measures to halt the decline.

He said: ‘Factors such as afforestation, climate change, grazing pressure, acid rain, predator numbers and loss of heather moorland will be considered.

‘It is also important that a UK- wide upland breeding bird monitoring scheme is implemented in the near future so that future trends can be tracked.’