Seabirds: the Crown Jewels of Scotland's Wildlife

Scotland is a leader in seabird research but faces challenges like avian flu, wind farms, and climate change. Conservation efforts are crucial.

Scotland holds some of the most important, and best studied populations of seabirds in the world. Scotland “punches above our weight” in terms of scientific papers on seabird ecology and we have world-leading long-term studies (many by amateurs and local ringing groups, not just professional researchers). However, many of our seabirds are now in decline, and recently there have been unprecedented outbreaks of avian influenza in seabird colonies. Rapid development of offshore wind farms represents a new pressure on seabirds now added to impacts of climate change, fisheries, invasive mammal predators and pollution.

Seabirds provide impressive wildlife experiences around Scotland but will we be able to conserve these populations? Despite government promises, we still don’t have a Scottish (or UK) seabird conservation strategy, but the legal protection now afforded to seabirds might provide an opportunity to improve their conservation status.

Bob Furness, our speaker, was fortunate in converting a childhood enthusiasm for ringing seabirds and watching them from the clifftops of Shetland into a career studying seabird ecology. Thirteen years ago he moved from an academic position as Professor of Seabird and Fishing Interactions at Glasgow University to working part-time at MacArthur Green on impacts of offshore wind farms on seabirds and for eight years as a member of the Board of SNH (now NatureScot).

This event will take place at Hyndland Secondary School, Clarence Drive, Glasgow, G12 9RQ. Children must be over 8 years old and accompanied by an adult. The venue has disabled access. No dogs please except assistance dogs.

Booking is essential.

To find out more, and for any booking queries, please contact David Palmar at [email protected]

Suggested donation: £2 (you can donate when you book or in person on the day). All donations help us to continue to bring an interesting and varied selection of events to our audience as well as supporting local wildlife causes. Please donate if you can.

Bookable face-to-face events may be subject to change at short notice, which will be communicated to attendees via email by the organiser. Please check your email in advance of attending events. Note that booking generally ends two hours prior to the event start time. If you wish to book to attend after registration has ended, and there are places still available, please contact the organiser direct using the details above.

Image: razorbill © Peter Cairns/2020VISION

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