Scottish Wildlife Trust news


Breeding success for osprey pair


ALTHOUGH they abandoned the regular nest at Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve in Perthshire earlier this year, ospreys LM12 and NC0 still successfully raised a chick in their first season as a breeding pair.


The male osprey, LM12, has bred at Loch of the Lowes since 2012, raising 15 chicks during that time. NC0, a female who was ringed at a nest near Loch Ness in 2016, is LM12’s third mate. Sadly, it was not possible to ring this year’s youngster, or establish if it was male or


female before the birds migrated.


Sara Rasmussen, the Trust’s Perthshire Ranger, said: “It was a privilege to watch LM12 and NC0 form a strong pair bond this spring. I’m absolutely delighted that they have been able to successfully raise a chick, and we’re hopeful that they’ll go on to have many more seasons together.”


The Osprey Protection Programme at Loch of the Lowes is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.


Mixed summer for


Handa’s seabirds MONITORING of seabird populations on Handa Island Wildlife Reserve during the 2020 breeding season highlighted a positive trend for several key species. This summer, the guillemot population was at its highest level since 2004, while the razorbill population saw a slight decline on 2019, but still remains higher than in the previous three years. Meanwhile, rangers observed a slight increase in the number


of breeding Arctic skuas, with 21 nests recorded – two more than in 2019. However, there was less positive news for several other


species, with all-island counts showing a decline in numbers of shags, terns and great black-backed gulls. Terns of any species have now failed to breed on Handa for five years. Due to lockdown, Trust Rangers Erika Poltz Faggiani and


Ospreys, LM12 and NC0


Johnny Rolt, together with Assistant Ranger Roxy Buhus, were the only people on the island for much of the 2020 season. They carried out a range of tasks in addition to wildlife monitoring, including removing non-native trees, beach cleans and path repair work.


Let’s get digital


LIKE many organisations, the Trust has explored new ways to engage with members online, with this year’s AGM and National Members’ Day held as online events for the first time. An increasing number of our local groups have


also looked to offer online talks in place of their winter events schedule. These have proven to be very popular, so we hope to continue to organise these events in collaboration with local groups over the winter months. We have also chosen to replace our printed events guide with a new online booking system, so that we can react quickly to future guidelines. To view our schedule, and sign up to our mailing list, please visit our website.


Bringing new life to Cumbernauld


CONSERVATION volunteering has made a difference to the lives of over 500 people in Cumbernauld through the Creating Natural Connections project. And exciting plans are under way to get even more people involved. Planting native trees and clearing scrub from peatlands are vital for creating and restoring important wildlife habitats. These activities also provide ways for young people to gain confidence and new skills. To help respond to the growing economic crisis


caused by Covid-19, the Trust and our partners, The Conservation Volunteers, hope to offer new traineeships and open up even more opportunities for volunteers. We are also working to help people at risk of poor mental health to enjoy the benefits that being in nature can provide. We have launched an urgent appeal to raise £25,000 for this work. If you’d like to support this initiative, you can find out more by visiting scottishwildlifetrust. org.uk/Cumbernauld


NOVEMBER 2020 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE 9


Guillemots nesting on Handa Island


© Pete Haskell


© Scottish Wildlife Trust


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