Fuller, R.J., Gillings, S. & Whitfield, D.P. 1999. Responses of breeding birds to expansion of scrub in the eastern Scottish Highlands: preliminary implications for conservation strategies. Die Vogelwelt 120(suppl.): 53-62.

Abstract

Large populations or red deer inhibit woodland regeneration throughout much of the Scottish Highlands. Reduction of deer numbers is being advocated and has already commenced within several large nature reserves. This paper describes work being undertaken to predict how birds might respond to large-scale regeneration of scrub and woodland. Breeding birds have been censused in patches of existing scrub to gain some idea of the characteristics of the bird communities that might develop. In addition, long-term monitoring plots have been established in a small number of moorland areas where scrub regeneration is taking place. Periodic future censuses of these plots will enable changes in bird populations to be documented and better predictions to be made of the wider effects on bird communities of scrub expansion. Data are presented on bird densities in a variety of moorland, scrub and woodland (pine and birch) habitats at Dinnet National Nature Reserve. These are used to illustrate how further successional changes might affect the composition of bird communities in this one area of eastern Scotland. It is suggested that in many areas of the Cairngorms, large-scale regeneration of scrub and woodland will, on balance, be beneficial to birds. Many woodland species, including nationally rare species, will benefit, but rather few moorland species are likely to be seriously affected, mainly because few species depend on the habitats and areas in which much of the new woodland will develop. It is also suggested that scrub in the eastern Cairngorms may support very few species that do not occur in either moorland or old woodland habitats. A case is made for the development of large areas of old woodland, both birch and pine.