VULNERABLE BIRDS: Scottish Gamekeepers Association starts bird protection scheme

A new conservation project aims to help stop the decline of some of Scotland's most vulnerable birds.

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) will ask its members to record the numbers of birds spotted.

This data will then be used to help target conservation efforts towards specific areas.

The wading bird population has dropped dramatically in Scotland with the numbers of some species falling by more than 50%.

The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) said its research showed wading birds breed up to three times more successfully on moors that are looked after by gamekeepers.

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Dozens of rare birds released into wild at Dubai Creek

DUBAI // Dozens of rare and endangered birds have been released in an ambitious conservation project.

Sixteen greater flamingos and 50 Socotra cormorants were released at Creek Park yesterday morning by wildlife experts from the municipality.

The birds were bred in captivity at Dubai Zoo and experts hope they will mix with the wild population and eventually make their way to Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary.

"This project has been a huge success for Dubai Zoo," said Dr Reza Khan, wildlife specialist for zoo management at Dubai Municipality.

"Dubai is the first zoo anywhere in the world to successfully keep and breed Socotra cormorants, and it is also the first 4.5-acre-sized zoo to breed flamingos."

The birds will be kept under observation for the next seven days to make sure they are settling in to their new surroundings.

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