Wildlife & Conservation
Number of endangered Corncrakes soar on Canna thanks to farmers
The number of endangered corncrakes on Canna has soared after years of low populations, and experts say it’s all thanks to farmers. At least 12-14 calling males were recorded on Canna this year, which is the first time the National Trust for Scotland has conducted formalised corncrake monitoring on the island for many years. Data…
Read MoreAutumn wildlife: Photographer Rosanna Forbes shares her seasonal pictures
Autumn’s colours make the perfect backdrop for wildlife photography, says Rosanna Forbes who shares her collection of seasonal pictures with Scottish Field. Read more Wildlife stories here. Subscribe to read the latest issue of Scottish Field.
Read MorePlans for UK ‘return’ of ancient aurochs 400 years after European extinction laid out
Cattle bred to resemble aurochs, large wild-roaming cows and bulls, could be introduced to an estate near Loch Ness – 400 years, after their extinction. Aurochs were once found across Europe, including Scotland, before habitat loss and hunting wiped them out in the 17th century. The muscular, long-horned tauros have been bred to be as…
Read MoreEmergency plan to save capercaillie from extinction in Cairngorms National Park
They have been in decline for decades, with experts believing they could be extinct in the next 20 to 30 years. But now an emergency bid to save the UK’s capercaillie population in the Scottish Highlands has been launched – and could lead to birds being introduced from continental Europe to help boost numbers. Cairngorms…
Read MoreCapercaillie numbers at leks down 9% amid extinction fears
The number of male Capercaillie at leks was down nine percent amid extinction fears for the species, The Scottish Gamekeepers Association has warned. Only 153 male birds were recorded at leks in key forests this year, 15 less than this time last year, according to the group. They warned should the decline continue, it would…
Read MoreFive seabird species added to the UK red list
Five seabird species have been added to the UK red list of birds most in need of conservation, the RSPB has announced. The Arctic Tern, Leach’s Storm-petrel, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Great Skua are now at risk because of severe population declines. It means of the 23 seabirds that make their home and…
Read MoreRum named as Scotland’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary
The Isle of Rum has been designated as Scotland’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary – just the second place in Europe to hold the accreditation. While Scotland has five designated International Dark Sky Places, the Inner Hebridean island, which has a population of just 40 people, is the first area to be designated as a…
Read MoreGreat White Egrets successfully fledge in Scotland for the first time
Great White Egrets have successfully fledged in Scotland for the first time. Three chicks left their nest near the Loch of Strathbeg nature reserve near Crimond earlier this week, after what is thought to be the first ever breeding attempt in Scotland. Conservationists said the successful fledging of the chicks is a significant milestone for…
Read MoreScotland’s Flow Country secures Unesco World Heritage status
It’s a vast and unspoiled blanket bog that carpets the far north of Scotland. But now The Flow Country has been made a world heritage site by Unesco, after a 40-year campaign by environmentalists. The planet’s largest blanket bog, the Flow Country covers around 1,500 sq miles of Caithness and Sutherland, and stores approximately 400…
Read MoreGalloway chosen as preferred location of Scotland’s third national park
By Izzy Alexander Galloway has been chosen as the preferred location for Scotland’s newest national park. There are currently two national parks north of the border – the Cairngorms, and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs. The Scottish government has pledged ‘at least one’ new park will be designated by spring 2026. Officials confirmed the winning…
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