Scottish Birds Growing in Number – But Still Decline in Upland Species
Scottish Birds Growing in Number –
But Still Decline in Upland Species
As you might have gathered I am somewhat of a bird watcher, there are a pair of binoculars on the kitchen counter as I write to help me identify anything interestingly avian in the garden or on the beach. But of course I am very careful never to turn the binoculars on the neighbours, who luckily are away most of the time anyway. So I was heartened to hear that bird numbers are on the rise, as always this is a ‘good news bad news ‘story.
Even the Cuckoo Doing Well
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) say that numbers have jumped by 68 per cent overall since the bird census of 1994. Scotland has 66 terrestrial breeding bird species. Some woodland species have been doing particularly well, such as Chiffchaffs, which have increased by a massive 752%, and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, whose numbers have soared by 530%. Changes in woodland management have improved the lot of the woodland species. Willow Warblers have increased by 46 per cent, with Tree Pipits up 86 per cent. Cuckoo numbers are up too, despite a radical decline south of the border. Farmland birds have been doing particularly well as agricultural practices change and numbers have grown by 22%. This rosy picture is not repeated for the Upland birds where numbers are still being stress with the exception of the Golden eagle which is making something of a comeback.
For Your Avian Pleasure
In your garden you can do a lot to help your local bird population by feeding them in the winter. Every supermarket and garden centre will have appropriate nibbles for our feathered friends; and if you have the time try to prepare a nest site for the migrant Swift, whose numbers have been in sharp decline in Scotland as nesting sites have been removed. And if you are a champion of our avian friends then please consider from the Royal Crown Derby range, a delight when you can’t see the real thing.
