All this month we are highlighting the plight of curlews in the UK. As part of this we're taking a look at what Lewis Macdonald MSP, species champion for curlew in Scotland, has been doing to help the species. 

Championing the Curlew in Scotland

In Scotland our species champion for the curlew is Lewis Macdonald, Member of Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland Region. Since first signing up to the project…

Peadar O'Connell, our Marine Policy Officer, recalls an evening’s kayak paddle by Marwick Head in Orkney and the seabirds that make a home there.

Echos of Kitticks

We launch from the shell strewn sands, slipping over the recently submerged seaweed on a subsiding tide, whilst oystercatchers alarm indignantly, their peace temporarily shattered. As we skirt around the cliffs the gentle swell rebounds off the…

Help push for a strong Climate Change Act – our wildlife needs it

Last week the Scottish Government introduced the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament. The Bill sets new targets for emission reductions but it’s not enough to meet the threat faced by wildlife and people in Scotland and around the world.

Our precious wildlife is suffering now from global…

Re-invest in Scotland’s most precious nature sites

All this week we have been celebrating our most special places for nature by bringing you a series of blogs about Scotland’s amazing protected areas. To round up the week, Isobel Mercer, RSPB Scotland Policy Officer, explains why we need to increase our investment in Scotland’s protected areas so that they continue to protect nature for generations to come…

The Shiant Isles: a safe haven for Scotland’s seabirds

All this week we are celebrating our most special places for nature by bringing you a series of exciting blogs about Scotland’s amazing protected areas. Today Charlie Main, Shiant Isles Seabird Recovery Project Manager, tells us about the Shiant Isles - a remote haven for Scotland’s seabirds - and the hugely successful rat eradication project that has secured…

Protecting special sites to save the curlew

All this week we are celebrating our most special places for nature by bringing you a series of exciting blogs about Scotland’s amazing protected areas. Today we hear from Isobel Mercer, RSPB Scotland Policy Officer, about why we need for more nature sites to protect the wonderful curlew.

Curlew, credit: Andy Hay

As well as being Protected Areas Week it is also Curlew…

The call of the corncrake and the magic of the machair

All this week we are celebrating our most special places for nature by bringing you a series of exciting blogs about Scotland’s amazing protected areas. Today we hear from Jamie Boyle, Site Manager at our Balranald Reserve, about the wonderful relationship between corncrakes and traditional farming techniques within this unique protected site.

It’s early…

Scotland’s growing network of cetacean Marine Protected Areas

All this week we are celebrating our most special places for nature by bringing you a series of exciting blogs about Scotland’s amazing protected areas. Today, we hear from guest blogger Sarah Dolman, Policy Manager at Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), about the growing network of protected sites for marine mammals like dolphin, porpoise and whale…

Springtime at Airds Moss Nature Reserve

All this week we are celebrating our most special places for nature by bringing you a series of exciting blogs about Scotland’s amazing protected areas. Today Dan Brown, Senior Conservation Advisor for South and West Scotland, tells us about the vibrant springtime unfolding at Airds Moss – a protected area that is special for birds like curlew, golden plover and redshank, as well…

Life on the Firth of Forth

All this week we are celebrating our most special places for nature by bringing you a series of exciting blogs about Scotland’s amazing protected areas. Today David Anderson, Inner Forth Project Officer, tells us all about life on the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area (SPA), and the wonderful birds that this site protects.

I love spring. It’s the season when the whole natural world…

Welcome to Protected Areas Week 2018

All this week we are celebrating our most special places for nature by bringing you a series of exciting blogs about Scotland’s amazing protected areas. We’re kicking off with Natura 2000 Day. Today, nature fans all across Europe will be celebrating what this wonderful network has achieved for wildlife and for people. Isobel Mercer, RSPB Scotland Policy Officer, tells…

Dolphinwatch has just launched - find out more about the project and meet the team.

Dolphinwatch in Aberdeen – Meet the team!

2018 marks a very exciting year for RSPB Scotland in Aberdeen. Over the last five years, we have been raising the profile of Aberdeen as one of the best and most reliable places in Europe to see bottlenose dolphins while engaging people about marine wildlife and habitats and the threats…

The UK is one of the most important places for curlews but numbers here are in decline. Throughout May across the RSPB we will be highlighting their plight. Many people are inspired by these birds - on Shetland two knitting patterns have been created in their honour. 

Knit for Shetland Whaaps

Curlews, more commonly known as Whaaps in Shetland, are part of the fabric of Shetland so we are thrilled that we have two knitting…