Swift screams silenced in Scotland

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BBS population trends are published annually for 61 bird species in Scotland, and the latest results show that 2012 was a particularly bad year for a number of migrant birds, including Whitethroat and Swift, perhaps due to a late spring and poor weather during the migration season. For Swifts, the latest drop in numbers is the third annual decline in a row, and follows a 57% decline in Scotland since the mid-1990s.

Linnets, which live on farmland, also did badly in 2012, with the population declining by nearly 50% between 2011 and 2012, taking the numbers of this small finch to their lowest level in Scotland since the survey began in 1994. Fortunately, 2012 was a good year for two of Scotland’s smallest birds; numbers of the tiny Wrens and Goldcrests had been declining since 2008, presumably due to the series of cold winters, but between 2011 and 2012 both species increased significantly, by 66% and 34% respectively.

Kate Risely, BBS organiser at the British Trust for Ornithology, said “While Swifts can be hard to monitor, a recorded 40% decline in these charismatic birds rings alarm bells. These birds are long-distance migrants that nest in gaps in walls and buildings, and they are vulnerable to adverse conditions while on migration, and to loss of nesting habitats here on their breeding grounds. While many birds are declining in Scotland, it’s good to see that numbers of Wrens and Goldcrests are showing signs of recovery after being hit hard by cold winters.”

Dr Andy Douse, Ornithological Policy & Advice Manager at Scottish Natural Heritage, added “The news that numbers of Linnets in Scotland fell to a new low in 2012 is of concern to everyone involved in Scottish nature conservation. These BBS figures highlight the important contribution made by volunteers to bird recording and conservation in Scotland, as we simply wouldn't be able to understand the magnitude and scale of these changes without the many hours of surveying carried out by committed volunteer birdwatchers.”

Jeremy Wilson, Head of Conservation Science at RSPB Scotland, said “The Breeding Bird Survey provides an important insight into the fortunes of Scotland’s birds, whilst some species seem to be exceeding our expectations, others, it appears, are giving real cause for concern. In under twenty years, we have lost more than half of our Kestrels, Lapwings, Curlews and Swifts. This is deeply concerning and should act as a wake-up call, not just to conservationists, but also landowners, government agencies and the general public. We can all play a part to help give nature a home, be it by providing suitable habitat, improving legislation or increasing research to understand the causes of decline. If we fail to do this we run the serious risk of losing these species from our countryside for ever.”

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