Scottish climate change could wipe out rare birds

Some of Scotland’s rarest birds could be wiped out by the end of the century as a new UK report highlights “profound” climate change in the Highlands, experts have warned.

Ptarmigan, dotterel and snow bunting have already been forced to the tops of the highest Scottish peaks as global warming has shrunk the cooler high- altitude habitat which they need to survive.

Experts yesterday published a new report highlighting numerous accepted predictions that climatic conditions in the birds’ territory will have altered so much that within 100 years they will be squeezed out completely because there will be nowhere left for them to go.

The latest warning was made in the Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Impacts Report Card, the first assessment of its kind in the UK bringing together research by 40 scientists to produce an overview of the affects of climate change on biodiversity now – and predictions for the future.

Environmental groups in Scotland, including Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) which helped to create the report card, voiced grave concerns over the affect of the changing climate on the birds’ niche Highlands habitat.

Professor Des Thompson, SNH principal advisor on biodiversity, stressed that “generations of study” were needed to get a clear picture of the effect of climate change on the Scottish mountains.

But he added: “From what we know, yes, there have been changes and, yes, they appear to have been profound, but we need further time to appreciate all the factors at work here. A 30- or 50-year period of study is in effect a very small snapshot but what is extraordinary is seeing how this habitat has changed over quite a small timeframe.

“This is a specialised landscape for species which have evolved to deal with it, but there have been significant changes over one generation. It seems likely that these changes will continue and become much more profound in the next 50 years.”

The report also predicted that species “most associated with cool temperatures are likely to be most vulnerable to climate change, particularly those with a narrow thermal niche”.

“For example, ptarmigan, dotterel and snow bunting are currently restricted to the summits of the highest Scottish mountains and suitable climatic conditions will disappear by the end of the century under many standard climate change projections.”

RSPB Scotland, which works with SNH on monitoring bird populations, is about to begin a study later this year exploring the impact of global warming on dotterels.

Jim Densham, a climate specialist with the charity, said: “The report card shows a whole range of impacts that a changing climate could have on our precious birds and wildlife. Some birds, such as the Slavonian grebe, ptarmigan and dotterel may disappear altogether from Scotland [because] future conditions may not suit their needs.

“Our research work is currently attempting to learn more about the fortunes of these species and the unique habitats they require to survive.”