Scotland’s iconic seabirds are continuing to vanish from our coastlines as fresh figures reveal a near-halving of populations since the 1980s.
New data from NatureScot paints a bleak picture, with seabird numbers now just 52 percent of what they were when regular monitoring began in 1986.
All eleven species assessed for breeding numbers in 2023 showed declines.
The Arctic skua remains the hardest hit, with numbers plummeting by a staggering 83 percent.
The seabird’s dramatic drop is linked to dwindling food sources like sandeels and pressure from predators such as great skuas.
Seabird populations have faced a barrage of pressures, from changing sea temperatures to overfishing and more frequent extreme weather events.
The impact of avian flu in recent years has added another layer of stress on already vulnerable colonies.
Offshore windfarm developments may bring further complications to the marine environment seabirds depend on.
Yet not all the news is bleak.
Short-term data from 2013 to 2023 shows glimmers of hope for some species.
Populations of black-legged kittiwakes, European shags and common guillemots have seen modest increases in the sites surveyed.
Three other species have stabilised, offering cautious optimism.
Breeding success has hovered around the long-term average, with chick numbers at 75 percent of the 1986 baseline.
Four species had higher than average breeding success, including Arctic skuas, little terns and kittiwakes.
But puffins, fulmars and gannets did worse than average, highlighting the uneven nature of the recovery.
Twelve seabird species were assessed for breeding success, with outcomes varying significantly from species to species.
Simon Foster, Trends Analyst at NatureScot, warned that multiple threats are combining to drive seabird numbers down.
He stressed the importance of continued long-term monitoring to help inform effective conservation efforts.
Foster also noted that while seabirds live much of their lives at sea, their land-based nesting habits make them easier to monitor than other marine wildlife.
To tackle the crisis, the Scottish Government and NatureScot are developing a Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan, now moving forward after public consultation.
One promising initiative is Biosecurity for Scotland, which aims to protect seabird islands from invasive predators such as rats.
The project involves partnerships between government, conservation bodies and local communities.
A Predator Free Certification Scheme is now offering training and accreditation for boat operators to reduce the risk of invasive species arriving on seabird islands.
With seabird numbers so vital to Scotland’s natural heritage and tourism, experts say urgent and sustained action is essential.
Without it, some of Scotland’s most recognisable coastal birds could disappear from view within a generation.
