Our 2020 highlights

RSPB Scotland’s Allie McGregor shares some of RSPB Scotland’s highlights from this year. 

Our 2020 highlights 

2020 was recognised as crucial for determining the future of our nature and climate from the beginning. This year has not gone as any of us expected, but with the world looking towards a future where we have emerged from the Covid-19 crisis it remains as important as ever to put nature at the heart of what we do and ensure a green recovery.  

Much of RSPB Scotland’s work this year has looked different to previous years but there are still so many stories and achievements to celebrate. We particularly wanted to thank all our incredible members and supporters this year. We could not do these things without your kindness and enthusiasm. 

Here are just some of our highlights from 2020 - you can find out more about these stories by clicking the links: 

Save Coul Links 

In February we celebrated the fantastic news that Scottish Government refused Coul Links proposals for a golf development near Embo in Sutherland. Coul links is an important site, protected at the national, European and international levels and we were delighted to see the Scottish Government rightly give this site the protection it deserves. 

The success was a collective effort from a huge number of people and organisations in the campaign to protect Coul Links from these damaging golf course proposals.  

Since the refusal of the planning application, an early stage consultation has been submitted for a new golf course proposal on the site and we have responded to say we will continue to oppose any development which has the potential to damage the protected wildlife sites. 

Breakfast Birdwatch 

During lockdown we had a lot of fun connecting with people all over Scotland who were enjoying nature from their homes. Every morning we grabbed our coffee (or tea!) and hopped online to see the lovely local wildlife our supporters were spotting during their breakfast! 

Volunteers and supporters connecting in new ways 

Volunteers and local groups got creative during lockdown and found amazing ways to stay connected. Many of our local groups held fantastic online talks and meetings. The Lanarkshire Local Group held an entire virtual weekend! Alison Guthrie, the Lanarkshire Local Group Leader, shared a bit about how it went:

"When the first lockdown started in March as leader of the Lanarkshire local group I decided that keeping in touch with our members would be very important and therefore started writing a blog, emailed to members with hard copies sent to those without internet access. One of the first things we cancelled was our annual birdwatching weekend in May, so how to keep people involved and interested in our non-existent trip? Four members kindly agreed to help with this and so for each day that we should have been away the group received a blog. The topics they covered ranged from the challenges in organising the weekend, as we all know detailed planning is the key to success. How they first got involved in birdwatching and subsequently with the group, bird and nature watching when growing up in the borders and on the final day with the full COVID restrictions in mind we were advised how to not only watch our very local birdlife but how to keep fit in the process. Many thanks to Janice, Isabel, Iain and Norah who agreed to contribute to our virtual May weekend. The blog continues and I am very grateful to everyone who has contributed short items, images and links to other sites of interest. All our blogs can be found on our webpage, not all images could be included, you would be most welcome to read them."

We’ve felt so grateful for the continued support of all our volunteers and supporters as we’ve all had to find new ways to work together and stay in touch this year.  

Terns in the Moray Firth 

This summer there were bumper numbers of common tern chicks counted at rafts provided for them for nesting at Avoch in the Moray Firth – 287 were counted, up from 231 last year! Two of our incredible volunteers look after this raft and one at Foulis in the Cromarty Forth.  

Mural at Baron’s Haugh 

After delays due to Covid, artist Rogue One completed this beautiful mural at our Baron’s Haugh reserve. Now, as you enter the car park, you are greeted with a stunning depiction of a kingfisher, otter and nuthatch which add a burst of colour and give a wee sneak peek at some of the lovely wildlife you might see during your visit. 

Common cranes in Aberdeenshire

Common cranes returned to Aberdeenshire earlier this year for the breeding season. Excitingly, as well as pairs going back to the three established nesting sites from previous years, others were recorded at three potential new sites. The summering population of these birds in Scotland has been gradually increasing over recent years, since the first recorded nesting in 2012 after an almost 400-year absence.

Nature Prescriptions 

At the beginning of November GPs at five practices in Edinburgh started prescribing nature as part of a new collaboration between RSPB Scotland and Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation, the official charity of NHS Lothian. These materials have been designed to help patients connect with nature in a variety of ways and are provided, where needed, alongside regular prescriptions as part of a range of health treatments prescribed by their GP. 

One year to COP 

Our Glasgow Climate Youth Project held a digital event for young people marking one year to the delayed COP26. This event explored climate change and biodiversity science, examples of the work being done in the field to reduce their impacts and how young people can take actions in their own way and work together to raise their voices. 

Nature of Scotland awards goes digital 

Our Nature of Scotland awards looked very different this year as we took it online. Hosted by TV presenter, adventurer and author Steve Backshall outside in a chilly London and BBC TV and radio presenter and wildlife expert Euan McIlwraith indoors in front of an open fire in the north east of Scotland it was a fantastic night of celebrating people and projects doing amazing work to protect and celebrate Scotland’s nature. 

Scottish Government announce licencing for grouse shooting 

At the end of November we welcomed the news that the Scottish Government is intending to introduce a licensing scheme for grouse shooting. We hope that, if enacted, this will help consign the illegal killing of Scotland’s birds of prey to the history books.