Five 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…

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Significant rise in Corncrake numbers recorded by RSPB Scotland

Corncrake numbers in Scotland have seen their first rise in five years, an RSPB Scotland survey can reveal. This year 870 calling males of these shy rare birds were recorded by the nature conservation charity, up from 828 the previous year.  This takes Scotland’s Corncrake population back to levels not seen since 2019. While still…

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Beavers could return to Cairngorms in efforts to boost numbers

Beavers could return to the Cairngorms as part of efforts to boost their population. The animals died out in Scotland around 400 years ago but were reintroduced in 2009. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is now set to speak to the public about a number of possible release sites. As part of the plans…

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Conservationists object to Coul Links golf course

WILDLIFE charities are calling on the public to object to plans for a golf course at Coul Links in Sutherland. Seven organisations – including the National Trust for Scotland, the RSPB, and the Scottish Wildlife Trust – are “extremely concerned” about revised plans submitted to The Highland Council. Craig Macadam, conservation director at insect charity…

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Move from research to conservation to save migrating birds

SCIENTISTS want efforts to shift from research to conservation in order to save migrating birds. Species under threat include cuckoos, swifts, and turtle doves, as well as swallows and whinchats. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) warned that gaps in research into the problem shouldn’t…

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Restoring Cairngorms forests – one burger at a time

VENISON from red deer shot in the Cairngorms is being sold to fund tree planting. Deer are culled in the Cairngorms National Park to stop them from eating the growing tips off tree saplings. The venison has gone on sale in the shop at the RSPB’s Loch Garten nature reserve. Previously, Lynbreck Croft – which…

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A Week in Whisky: Inverness, The Cairn, and more

Peter Ranscombe ponders another week in whisky with a smile and a wink… NEWS this week of the National Whisky Festival of Scotland reaching the Highlands for the first time. The event will roll into Eden Court in Inverness on 2 July. “Geographically, Inverness is ideally situated for the National Whisky Festival of Scotland, sitting…

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Paws on Plastic play their part in the GB Spring Clean

A day long celebration and litter picking effort is Paws on Plastic’s contribution to the Great British Spring Clean – from a community of dog owners removing over 30 million pieces of rubbish every year. Paws on Plastic, a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation comprising 22,000 dog owners in over 70 countries who pledge to pick…

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