Scottish Bird Populations Shifting Rapidly As Climate Warms; Grouse, Kestrel #s Down 50%

Some of Scotland’s most famous bird species, including grouse and kestrels, are among those declining as a result of climate change, a new report has found.

The study, by public body NatureScot, charted the populations of Scotland’s terrestrial breeding birds between 1994 and 2022. It found significant changes to the numbers and species of birds living in the country’s urban, woodland, upland and farmland habitats, in large part due to ­hotter and wetter weather related to the climate crisis.

Some species have increased their populations due to warmer summers, attracting those which would not traditionally travel to Scotland. These include the great spotted woodpecker, whose numbers have increased by more than 500%, and bullfinches and wrens, which have each seen an increase of more than 50%.

For some birds, says NatureScot, Scotland is becoming a “climate ­refuge” as its temperatures climb closer to those preferred by species used to warmer environments. One such bird is the willow warbler, which historically has bred in Europe and migrated to southern Africa in winter, but which has increased its population in Scotland by more than 50% since 1994. Some species such as goldfinches and magpies are now twice as populous on Scotland’s farmland as they were in 1994.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/13/grouse-and-kestrels-on-the-wane-as-climate-crisis-hits-scottish-wildlife