Latest news with #Slavoniangrebes
STV News
03-05-2025
- General
- STV News
Plea for paddleboarders and kayakers to steer clear of endangered birds
A plea is being made to watersport lovers to help save one of Scotland's most endangered birds. Paddleboarders and kayakers are being asked to steer clear of a popular loch which is also a haven for Slavonian grebes. Their numbers have declined sharply in recent years. Loch Ruthven attracts fishers, swimmers, paddleboarders and kayakers. The protected Site of Special Scientific Interest is also a magnet for one of the colourful grebes. In Scotland, the species only breeds within 30 miles of Inverness but numbers at Loch Ruthven have dipped from ten pairs in 2019 to just three pairs last year. Half the UK's breeding population of Slavonian grebe nests on Loch Ruthven and increased human activity has caused concern. Steph Elliott of RSPB Scotland, said: 'One thing that we do know is happening is that there's an increase in recreational activity taking place on Slovenian Grebe lochs and that causes disturbance to the birds. 'It prevents them getting to their nests. It might keep birds from their nests so they can't incubate their eggs properly and, also, they're a bird that's quite vulnerable to disturbance, so they don't like the presence of people. 'What we're asking folks to do is to just not go out onto the water where the birds are really easily disturbed. 'We would rather folks came here to Loch Ruthven to see the grebes than go to other sites that are vulnerable to disturbance because we've got a birdwatching hide here and we can help people see them safely without disturbing them.' The catastrophic decline in grebe numbers has prompted the charity, working in collaboration with Highland Council, to launch a public consultation on restricting public use of the water. Local councillor and Green Party group leader Chris Ballance said: 'The decline of birdlife across Scotland is deeply worrying, particularly the rarer birds like this. 'It's really important that we keep the biodiversity, that we keep as wide a range of species as possible in Scotland, and that means sometimes protecting our natural spaces so that people don't disturb them at key points in the breeding seeason.' The consultation runs until mid May. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
21-04-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Consultation launched to help protect rare birds at Highland loch
Supported by The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), NatureScot and the Local Access Forum, the consultation will run until Friday May 16 and invites feedback on potential guidance asking visitors not to canoe, paddleboard or swim at the east end of the loch between March 1 and August 31. Since 2020, an increase in water sports on the loch has led to more incidents of disturbance during the breeding season, when Slavonian grebes build hidden nests in reeds and swim out onto the open water to find food. READ MORE: Scottish island awarded Global Geopark status by UNESCO Loch Lomond rainforest project receives cash boost Wildlife body warns over progress on nature recovery The entire UK breeding population of Slavonian grebes is usually found on lochs within 30 miles of Inverness and has fallen from a peak of around 80 breeding pairs in the early 1990s to only 15 in 2023. At Loch Ruthven, the number of breeding pairs has dropped to just three in 2024. It is hoped that by reducing noise and movement on the loch, the birds would be more likely to achieve a successful breeding season preventing further decline in numbers. The consultation is being hosted by The Highland Council, the local Access Authority with duties and powers to help manage outdoor access rights in their area. For more information on the consultation and to share your views, please visit: Consultation on Local Access Guidance for Loch Ruthven
