Foxes and crows face culls in bid to save bird population

Published on Wednesday 10 March 2010 21:58

FOXES and crows should be culled in the Scottish uplands to protect threatened wading birds, scientists have argued.

• In areas where foxes are controlled to protect grouse, ground-nesting breeds such as curlews and lapwings thrive, but their numbers are plunging elsewhere. Picture: PA

A nine-year study showed the two predators had a considerable impact on curlew, lapwing and golden plover populations.

All are either red or amber listed species for conservation action because their numbers are so low.

New research, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, found that when crows and foxes were controlled, numbers of the birds increased more than three times.

As a result, the scientists from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, have argued more needs to be done to ensure numbers of the predators are reduced.

They say whereas owners of grouse shooting estates make sure foxes and crows are kept under control to protect grouse, in upland areas there is not the same incentive – and numbers have grown out of control.

The Upland Predation Experiment was one of the longest running studies of its kind.

Dr Adam Smith, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust's director for Scotland, said: "The results of this study appear unequivocal and raise important questions as to why wader populations across Scotland are at best just hanging on.

"This study suggests that populations are being held back because high quality predator control is being limited to grouse moors."

He added that the "clear cut results" of the study suggested Scottish Government funding, under the Scottish Rural Development Programme, should be channelled to be available to moorland managers across the country.

Foxes and crows were scarce in many parts of the UK a century ago but now they are common.

It is estimated there are about 240,000 foxes and 1,580,000 crows in the UK.

Dr Kathy Fletcher, a senior upland scientist with the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and an author of the study, said: "It would be very sad if we lost a significant fraction of our bird life through want of a little wildlife management."

She added: "Gamekeepers routinely reduce the number of predators on grouse moors and this is essential for boosting the red grouse population.

"Our work shows that this also benefits species like lapwing, golden plover and curlew as well."

Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland said the study was "valuable".

He said it provided "experimental evidence that legal predator control of foxes and crows can benefit some upland breeding bird populations".

It is legal to kill crows and foxes in the UK. Usually they are controlled using traps or guns. Anyone carrying out predator control is expected to follow a code of conduct that ensures the creatures are not left in the traps for too long.

The curlew is the largest European wading bird, instantly recognisable for its long down-curved bill and long legs.

The lapwing is also known as the peewit because of its calls. It is black and white and has a splendid crest.

The golden plover has distinctive gold and black summer plumage. The birds typically stand upright and run in short bursts. All three species have suffered serious declines in recent years.