Marine Policy Offier, Caitlin Paul, recently took a trip to RSPB Scotland Fowlsheugh nature reserve. This seabird colony might seem loud and busy at first glance, but Caitlin dug a bit deeper... In this blog, she tells us why our seabird cities are less than bustling.
Visiting RSPB Scotland Fowlsheugh nature reserve in Aberdeenshire, I was able to immerse myself in the experience of a seemingly thriving, noisy, and dynamic seabird colony. I observed nesting Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars and Kittiwakes, and even managed to spot the bright orange feet of a solitary Puffin. However, what looks to be a bustling nesting cliff face is not all it seems. Staff who work there and carry out counts of the seabirds have concerns over the numbers of birds returning, how successful they’ve been in laying eggs and feeding and rearing their young – the critical reason they come to Fowlsheugh year after year. As I took in the sights, sounds and smells of the cliff, I reflected on the multiple levels of threats these seabirds face.
Scotland is vitally important for seabirds at the global scale, for example, we host up to 60% of the world's population of Great Skuas, and 48% of Gannets. These birds are top marine predators and an essential part of our rich and diverse marine ecosystems. They are also key indicators of our ocean health. The recent Seabirds Count, a huge effort to count these birds undertaken about every 20 years, shows that 70% of Scotland’s seabird species are in decline. Puffins, Kittiwakes, Arctic Terns, Guillemots and more are being lost right now from our coasts and seas. The avian flu outbreak that started after the Seabird Count has now added to the toll. It is abundantly and unnervingly clear that Scotland’s seabirds are among our most important natural treasures - and yet are the most vulnerable to national extinction.
Caitlin at Fowlsheugh nature reserve
Some of the threats that seabirds face in addition to unexpected disease outbreaks such as Avian flu include:
Climate Change
This can have devasting impacts for seabirds. It has direct impacts through extreme weather events, for example the European Shag population on the Isle of May reportedly dropped by a ‘catastrophic’ 81% in just one year after major storms in autumn 2023. Additionally, and likely yet more damaging, rising sea temperatures linked to climate change can disrupt the whole marine food-web and therefore the availability of some of the prey fish species that seabirds rely on, making it harder to find food for both the adults and their chicks.
Invasive Species
The deliberate or accidental introduction of rats, ferrets and other invasive species into island habitats has left our seabirds open to attack. Places where animals have evolved without predators, such as islands, struggle to adapt to these newcomers preying upon eggs and chicks. Burrowing birds like the Manx Shearwaters or Storm Petrels are especially vulnerable. Like most seabirds, they have slow reproductive rates and bird numbers may never recover from an incursion of non-native predators.
Lack of Food
While fish populations that seabirds rely on for food are impacted by climate change, they are also vulnerable to overfishing - which means seabirds struggle to forage enough food to sustain themselves and their chicks.
In early 2024 we achieved an historic landmark, as industrial sandeel fisheries were closed in Scottish waters, and in the English waters of the North Sea. This was a real lifeline for seabirds like Puffins and Kittiwakes, which rely heavily on sandeels to feed their young. As I write the EU are questioning the closures, but we are hopeful that they can be secured and recognised as the vital measure they are for beleaguered seabird populations.
Accidental Bycatch
Seabirds also face the risk of getting accidentally hooked or entangled in fishing gear. It is estimated that almost 36,000 seabirds a year die as a result of this ‘accidental bycatch’, just by the Gran Sol fishery alone, which operates across European waters including off the coast of Scotland, down to southwest Ireland and France. A recent study from RSPB’s European partners BirdLife revealed that almost 200,000 seabirds die every year in European waters because of bycatch incidents.
Offshore Wind
We are currently facing a climate and nature crisis, and we need to tackle both. Renewable energy is a key element of the fight to combat climate change, but inappropriately placed offshore wind farms pose an additional threat to our seabirds. There is a risk of birds colliding with wind turbines or flying additional miles to avoid them – expending valuable energy. On top of that, offshore wind can cause issues with food availability.
Currently, there is a lack of information on the widespread and long-term effects of these structures, and too often a failure to put in place the measures we need to help address their impacts - including siting and designing developments to minimise the threat to seabirds.
Guillemots by Paul Turner
What can we do?
As I depart from Fowlsheugh with the sound of seabirds ringing in my ears, I reflect on the fact that there are many things that can and should be done to help these amazing creatures. For example, we hope to see a robust, clear, and timebound Scottish Seabird Conservation Strategy being brought forward for consultation by Scottish government this year. This needs to be well resourced if it is to support the delivery of the many actions that are clearly needed if we are to turn around the current situation for seabirds.
Vital measures we are calling for include greater protections for our seas, tackling accidental bycatch, clearing islands of invasive predators and keeping them free from non-native predators through effective biosecurity measures.
Let’s give our seabirds and our wildlife a chance to recover and build resilience to the challenges ahead. Keep your eyes out for how you can help very soon. Follow us on social media and sign up to our newsletter.
Main image: Gannets, by Katie Nethercoat