As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Friday 15 December 2017

Scottish crossbill faces climate change extinction


5 December 2017

The Scottish crossbill is at risk of extinction because the climate is unsuitable, new research has indicated.

It is the only British bird species that is found nowhere else in the world.

Other species are moving further north as temperatures rise and habitats change, according to an RSPB report.

The State of the UK's Birds 2017 highlights the average summer temperature is nearly 1C higher than in the 1980s.

The Scottish crossbill is found in the pine forests of the Highlands.

Numbers have also declined among dotterel, whimbrel, common scoter and snow bunting populations.

Slavonian grebe numbers have also been hit due to periods of very heavy rainfall during breeding season.

Dr David Douglas, Principal Conservation Scientist at RSPB Scotland, said: "Many birds in Scotland are being affected by a changing climate.


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