Conservation Science in the RSPB 2007
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CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2007 IN THE RSPB Contents Conservation Science in the RSPB 1 Introduction 2 Funding 4 Partnerships 5 The Application of Science 8 The scientific case for a two-tiered agri-environment scheme 9 Monitoring and indicators 12 The 2006 survey of breeding divers 13 The 2005 survey of the breeding birds of the Salisbury Plain Training Area 15 Web-based data sharing 17 Delivering biodiversity indicators in Europe 18 Surveying the biodiversity of Gola Forest, Sierra Leone 20 The ecology of threatened species 22 Breeding ecology of spotted flycatchers 23 Ring ouzels and changes in moorland habitat composition 25 Corn buntings and agri-environment management in eastern Scotland 27 Satellite tracking northern bald ibis from Syria 29 Threats to Jerdon’s courser in India 31 Conservation management for the great yellow bumblebee 32 Ecology and conservation of the aspen hoverfly 34 Ecological process and issues research 35 Is the Scottish crossbill a species? 36 Adult sex ratios in birds: an unhappy balance? 38 Poisoning of reintroduced red kites through exposure to lead ammunition 39 Birds and wind farms – a sensitivity map for Scotland 41 Does international conservation policy work? 43 Habitat and the effects of recreational disturbance on Dartford warblers 44 Exceptional heather die-back at Abernethy Forest reserve 46 The global spread of H5N1 avian influenza 48 PhD training 50 Publications 52 Publications in scientific journals, proceedings and books 53 Reports, theses and other publications 56 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Andy Hay 1 Conservation science in the RSPB The RSPB is the UK charity working to secure a healthy environment for birds and wildlife, helping to create a better world for us all. We belong to BirdLife International, the global partnership of bird conservation organisations. The RSPB prides itself on using the best scientific evidence available to guide its conservation policies and practice. Only by basing our work on such evidence can we be confident that our actions will be of benefit to birds and other wildlife. For further copies of this report, or those for earlier years, please contact the Conservation Science Department, The RSPB UK Headquarters, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL or RSPB Scotland, Dunedin House, 25 Ravelston Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 3TP. You can also e-mail [email protected] or visit www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/science Red kite 2 3 Introduction Welcome to the sixth report on the resources in Western Europe, it also set at the species level. These While there are quite a large number grounds, which transpired to be in RSPB’s scientific work. While the has the highest number of wind farm priorities have a strong influence on Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com) of cases where the success of Ethiopia. Knowledge of the ibises’ score or more of projects included proposals of any UK country. The the investment of scarce conservation interventions, such as migration route and wintering grounds in this report represents just a RSPB is supportive of wind farms conservation resources, so it is very that for corncrakes and corn will aid their successful conservation. snapshot of our overall scientific because of the contribution they can important to be able to determine buntings, has been measured at a programme, we hope they will make to combat climate change; whether a species is truly a species local or national scale, there are few As an applied conservation demonstrate the depth and however, we believe that they should or not. For birds, nowhere in the UK examples where this has been organisation, we need to disseminate breadth of the scientific work not be located in areas where they has this issue been more considered measured at a continental scale. One the results of our work to undertaken by the RSPB. might have an adverse impact on than in Scotland, where over the last example, recently published in the conservation practitioners as soon as birds and other wildlife. To inform this decade the RSPB and others have prestigious journal Science and we are confident of them, while also More than in any previous year, debate, we have recently produced a endeavoured to determine whether authored by staff from the RSPB, maintaining the quality of our perhaps, this report has a strong wind farm sensitivity map for the Scottish crossbill is a species or BirdLife International and BioSS has scientific work by publishing it in the Scottish flavour. This is no accident, Scotland, showing areas where there not. This research (pp 36-37) has done just that. This analysis (p 43) peer-reviewed scientific literature. as the RSPB invests heavily in are likely to be conflicts between shown that the three different has shown that the EU Birds Thus, while in most cases the research and monitoring work in wind farms and key bird species, but species of crossbill that occur in the Directive has been effective in information contained in this report is Scotland. As with many areas of the also areas where no such conflicts UK are reproductively isolated (each conserving target bird populations based on publications in peer- Corn bunting RSPB’s work, the structure of are likely. Scottish Natural Heritage choosing partners with similar bill (those on Annex 1 of the Directive) reviewed scientific journals, in others science in the RSPB is set up to supported production of the map, sizes and calls) and that bill size is within the EU, showing that we have presented important work within an increasingly devolved and the sensitivity ratings from it heritable. This confirms that the corncrake’s needs), has also led to a international conservation policy can preliminary results that have not yet UK. Parliamentarians, civil servants have already been used in the Scottish crossbill can be considered a spectacular increase in the really benefit nature conservation. been published formally. A complete and other decision makers with Highland Region to aid wind farm separate species, making it corncrake’s population (pp 9–11, and list of all publications for 2006 and whom RSPB Scotland staff work planning. Scotland’s, and the UK’s, only 2006: 9-11), it is clear that well- Such analyses show clearly that the the first half of 2007 is provided daily understandably demand endemic bird species. designed agri-environment schemes RSPB has an international as well as a towards the back of the report, and answers to questions that are Information on the status of two can help a range of wildlife. domestic agenda. Articles in this for previous years is available at specific to Scotland’s wildlife. In species that in the UK are restricted Our scientific work is not restricted report outline the variety of our www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/science. many cases, these questions can to Scotland, red-throated and black- to birds; over recent years we have One other species, the corn bunting, international scientific work, all only be answered by scientific throated divers, played a central role become increasingly involved in whose range is now very restricted undertaken in partnership with others, We would be delighted to hear of research, hence the RSPB has long in the production of the wind farm studying other species, such as the in Scotland, has also benefited from and ranging from surveys of Gola any ideas that you might have on recognised the need for a dedicated sensitivity map. The changing status great yellow bumblebee and aspen sensitive farming practices. As part of Forest in Sierra Leone (pp 20-21) and how we could improve future team of scientific staff in Scotland. of these and other species can be hoverfly, results of which are outlined the Farmland Bird Lifeline, a studies of the critically endangered versions of this report. This team currently comprises 20 or determined only through regular on pp 32-33 and 34 respectively. A partnership between RSPB, SNH, Jerdon’s courser in India (pp 31), to so staff, based mainly in our monitoring, so, in 2006, the RSPB re- PhD study of this formerly Scottish Executive and FWAG, predicting the global spread of H5N1 headquarters in Edinburgh, but also surveyed both species with widespread, but now rare, management for corn buntings has avian influenza (pp 48-49). One in Regional Offices in Glasgow, partnership funding from SNH as part bumblebee has shown that it been implemented on a number of particular study, however, captured the farms in eastern Scotland. Over a Aberdeen and Inverness. In the of the Statutory Conservation requires a succession of flowering attention of the media in 2006 (pp 29- Dr Mark Avery two-year period, corn bunting summer months, this team employs Agencies / RSPB Annual Breeding plants to provide pollen and nectar 30). Satellite tags were fitted to three Director, Conservation, the RSPB additional assistants to help with Bird Scheme (SCARABBS; pp 13-14). throughout the flight season, and that numbers declined by 5% on and adult northern bald ibises from the work in the field throughout Scotland. Fortunately, numbers of both species the management undertaken for around farms with such management recently discovered, tiny population in have increased since the previous corncrakes can be particularly (pp 27–28). While, on the face of it Syria. This population of these critically An excellent example of how this survey in 1994, although numbers of beneficial to the bees. Given that this this may not seem a resounding endangered birds is migratory, yet success, the benefit of this team works to influence decision red-throated on Shetland are still well management, now part of the their migration route and wintering Dr David Gibbons making in Scotland is shown on below those recorded there in 1983.