2/3rds Of Scottish Kestrels Gone In Past 20 Years; Fastest Decline Of Any Bird In Scotland
CONSERVATIONISTS are calling for urgent investigations as a new survey shows kestrels are disappearing from Scotland more rapidly than any other birds. Numbers of the raptors have plummeted by two thirds in under 20 years, according to the latest annual Breeding Bird Survey from the conservation charity RSPB.
Early research suggests intensification of farming could be partly to blame, with changing agricultural practises affecting populations of smaller creatures the birds feed on.
Climate change, competition for nest sites and a rise in the use of some rat poisons are other possible causes.
RSPB Scotland, which has already launched its own investigations, says more studies must be done to understand the drivers of this steep decline before it’s too late. “It’s really sad to see kestrels suffering such large drops in numbers in recent years,” said Staffan Roos, senior conservation scientist for the charity.
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http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/scottish-kestrel-numbers-in-rapid-decline-1-3540417
