Seabird numbers stabilising

The fall in Scotland's seabird population is levelling off, a new report has claimed, following a steady period of decline over the past decade.

The number of seabirds north of the Border fell by 28 per cent between 1986 and 2009, but figures released by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) show that the decrease has stemmed over the past three years.

Experts said the drop may have been linked to food shortages, weather conditions and attacks by non-native species such as brown rats and mink.

Conservation organisations have introduced a range of measures, including trapping and removal of non-native predators, in a bid to boost seabird populations.

"The apparent halt of the decline since 2007 is encouraging," said Andy Douse, ornithologist at SNH.

"This may be an early sign that the various measures, and a lot of effort from many different people and groups across Scotland, have made a difference to seabird populations which are possibly beginning to stabilise."

But he warned: "It is too early to say for sure that seabird numbers have stopped declining."