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Seabird Counts
Annual Seabird Counts in the Firth of Forth
Since 1959, seabirds have been surveyed annually in the Firth of Forth. Begun on an experimental basis by likeminded Scottish ornithologists, who were excited by the local islands and their seabird colonies, today these counts do more than satisfy our curiosity. The yearly findings supplement our ever-evolving understanding of seabirds in Scotland. They inform and direct conservation strategies and, ultimately, the actions taken to protect these precious birds.
The Firth of Forth has long been revered for its impressive array of birdlife. From its extensive mudflats and saltmarsh, which support internationally important numbers of waders and wildfowl, to the nutrient-rich offshore waters which provide prey aplenty, the Forth estuary attracts birds from all across the world to shelter, rest, feed and breed.
.jpeg "Fidra island: a long island of 2 sections, with a lighthouse on the left half, viewed from North Berwick's shore")
The Counts
It can be challenging counting seabirds. For most of the year they are out at sea, so counts are undertaken when the adults return to land each year to breed. Even then, it’s not simple. Seabirds often nest in precarious places, such as high on craggy cliff faces or on remote islands surrounded by rough sea. Trying to determine if a bird is nesting or simply resting on a ledge is difficult when many species don’t make the typical “nests” that we expect of terrestrial species.
There are 3 main methods for counting seabirds. We can:
- Count individuals/nests
- Count a section of a larger colony, then estimate the total
- Take photographs
_Greg_MacVean_(7).jpg "An adult Shag stands over its nest of 2 large, brown chicks which are panting in the hot sunshine")
Usually, it is nest sites that are counted, even if the adults are not present on them. Guillemots are an exception to this, as we count how many individual birds are sitting on breeding ledges – a conversion factor can then be used to estimate the number of pairs.
Counts are undertaken on the islands themselves where possible, whilst others are achieved from boats. Whether on the islands or not, care is taken not to disturb the birds or—in the case of ground-nesting species—not to accidentally trample burrows or nests. Disturbing birds whilst they are nesting can cause the adults to leave their broods unprotected. If an adult leaves its nest, the egg or chick it was sheltering might be exposed to chilling wind or rain, which it might not survive. Hungry gulls or other predators on the lookout for food may even take the opportunity to attack unprotected chicks.
.jpg "A Lesser Black Backed Gull looms ominously behind an adult puffin standing vigilantly")
What do the Surveys Tell Us?
Although we no longer hunt or persecute the majority of these species in Britain, seabirds still face many threats including climate change, offshore development, unsustainable fishing and diseases such as Avian Flu. The environment and how we utilise it is changing in ways that put pressure on food supplies and suitable nesting habitat, causing seabird populations to suffer.
Seabirds are the most threatened group of birds in the world. In the 33 years from 1986 to 2019, Scottish seabirds have faced declines of nearly 50%. Of particular concern are Arctic Skua and Kittiwakes, which have suffered most acutely from changing fish populations.
Without seabird counts, we would not have this data. We would not be able to see just how badly seabirds are faring, and we would have no evidence to bolster the action needed to reverse these declines. By surveying seabirds, we can keep track of populations across the decades. As indicators of the health of marine ecosystems, we can also use the information as a window into the state of our seas, from the species that seabirds compete with to those that they feed on; from the top of the food chain to the bottom.
_Greg_Macvean.jpg "A Kittiwake glides across a pastel-blue sky carrying nest material")
The Forth Seabird Group
The Forth Seabird Group are a team of volunteers dedicated to monitoring the population of seabirds breeding on Scotland’s east coast in the Firth of Forth. Focusing on the Forth Islands, they survey and produce annual seabird count reports for the area, providing quality data consistently since 1959.
The Scottish Seabird Centre support the group by assisting with counts on the ten islands in the Firth of Forth which the group monitor. These are Bass Rock, Craigleith, the Lamb and Fidra, which are most local to North Berwick. The others are Carr Craig, Haystack, Inchcolm, Inchgarvie, Inchkeith and Inchmickery, which are found further up the Firth of Forth.
To find out more about the Forth Seabird Group and all that they do, please go to their website.