Data from the SRMS collected during the breeding season of 2022 has been used to compare the breeding performance of several raptor species with comparable data from previous years to assess whether significant changes in numbers of breeding birds or in breeding success had occurred and whether any of the changes detected were likely to be caused by the HPAI outbreak.

The findings are published in:

Wilson, M.W., Wetherhill, A.S., and Wernham, C.V. 2023. An analysis of Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme data to improve understanding of the impact of the 2022 Avian Influenza outbreak on raptors and raptor populations in Scotland. NatureScot Research Report 1331.

https://www.nature.scot/doc/naturescot-research-report-1331-analysis-scottish-raptor-monitoring-scheme-data-improve

The latest issue of Scottish Raptor is now available. Please take a look here to find out all the news from the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme, including an external evaluation that been undertaken of the Scheme, how the SRMS is supporting this years national Hen Harrier survey and the next steps with our work on trends.

If you would like to sign up to receive future issues of the newsletter by email then please email the SRMC – srmc@bto.org.

Back issues of Scottish Raptor can be accessed here.

Mark Lewis (SOC Birding & Science Officer) talks to Amy Challis (SRMC) and Andrew Stevenson (SRMG Chair) about the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme, which has been keeping tabs on Scotland’s Raptors for the last 20 years. To celebrate their 20th Birthday, SRMS released their first population trends for Scotland’s raptors via both a report and a brilliant interactive web tool. Also, Amy shares how she feels about Birds of Paradise and Andrew reveals his Hebridean birding dream (a Willet) and his Hebridean birding reality (a Snowy Owl/white bucket).

The podcast can be accessed on a range of platforms:

Acast – https://shows.acast.com/some-ornithological-chat/episodes/some-ornithological-chat-with-amy-challis-and-andrew-stevens

Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/some-ornithological-chat/id1635138214

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/6bPVJfSjt3wZA6IxysQFL6

To  find out about and access other episodes in SOC ‘Some Ornithological Chat’ series please visit the SOC website:

https://www.the-soc.org.uk/content/get-involved/podcast

The latest issue of Scottish Raptor is now available. Please take a look here to find out all the news from the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme, including an appeal for information to inform an analysis on Avian Influenza and raptors.

If you would like to sign up to receive future issues of the newsletter by email then please email the SRMC – srmc@bto.org.

Back issues of Scottish Raptor can be accessed here.

The SRMS is delighted to announce the publication of national and regional trends for raptors in Scotland based on SRMS data for the period 2009-2018.

Trends cover breeding numbers and productivity (breeding success, clutch size, brood size and the number of fledglings) at national and regional (SRMS Region and Natural Heritage Zones) levels for 14 species (13 raptors plus Raven) that breed regularly in Scotland.

We have produced a Summary Report which highlights the trends we have been able to produce.

More information and further links can be accessed from the ‘Trends’ menu on the Home Page.

The latest issue of Scottish Raptor is now available. Please take a look here to find out all the news from the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme, including how to secure your place at our forthcoming 20th anniversary celebrations on Friday 25th November.

If you would like to sign up to receive future issues of the newsletter by email then please email the SRMC – srmc@bto.org.

Back issues of Scottish Raptor can be accessed here.

You are now able to book your free place at the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme’s 20^th Anniversary celebrations at Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry, Perthshire on Friday 25th November. 

Booking is essential. Please visit the link below to secure your place.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scottish-raptor-monitoring-scheme-20th-anniversary-celebration-tickets-428565760727

There will be a programme of talks from 2-4 pm followed by a celebratory drinks reception until 5 pm.

Welcome Amy Challis (SRMS Coordinator)

Why raptors are brilliant Brian Etheridge (Scottish Raptor Study Group)

Our greatest achievements Andrew Stevenson (SRMS Chair)

The importance of volunteers & Raptor Patch Logan Steele (Scottish Raptor Study Group)

How SRMS data are used by SRMS partners Kenny Kortland (Forestry & Land Scotland)

Raptor monitoring – the international context for SRMS David Stroud (formerly Joint Nature Conservation Committee)

Raptor monitoring in action – video

Thoughts from the Minister for Environment & Land Reform Mairi McAllan MSP

The rise and fall of a population of Buzzards over the last 35 years Mike Bell (Tayside & Fife Raptor Study Group)

SRMS trends in breeding numbers & productivity Chris Wernham (British Trust for Ornithology)

Close and welcome to drinks reception Amy Challis (SRMS Coordinator)

We are very pleased that the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC), one of our SRMS partners, has agreed to our celebratory event being linked to the Club’s annual weekend conference (Friday 25th – Sunday 27th November), which this year is themed around raptors. Attendees at the SRMS event who wish to book a place at the SOC conference or stay for the Friday evening conference programme (including dinner, talk and quiz) need to book directly through the Club. For programme details and to book, visit https://www.the-soc.org.uk/support-us/events/events/the-2022-annual-conference

On the week the SRMS celebrate its 20th birthday, we are pleased to share our latest issue of Scottish Raptor. Please take a look here to find out all the news from the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme.

To mark the occasion of our 20th birthday many of the representatives who sit on the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Group, share their messages of ongoing support for the SRMS. We will be holding a celebratory event later this year – Friday 25th November – for which details and booking information will be made available in due course.

As well as bringing you up to speed with the work of the Scheme, in this issue we have a number of invited articles, including an update on the Avian Influenza situation which is impacting raptors and a piece looking back at the history of Golden Eagle and Peregrine monitoring in Central Scotland.

If you would like to sign up to receive future issues of the newsletter by email then please email the SRMC – srmc@bto.org.

Back issues of Scottish Raptor can be accessed here.

The SRMS is pleased to announce the publication of its annual report covering the 2020 breeding season. Find out how Scottish raptors fared in 2020 by reading the latest report which can be accessed here. Supplementary data tables linked from the report can be accessed here.

The latest issue of Scottish Raptor is now available. Please take a look here to find out all the news from the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme.

Hopefully it is not too early to wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas. As well as bringing you up to speed with the work of the Scheme we have a number of invited articles, including an update on work undertaken by SASA’s Wildlife DNA Forensic Unit to build raptor forensic DNA databases and an update on the work of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project.

If you would like to sign up to receive future issues of the newsletter by email then please email the SRMC – srmc@bto.org.

Back issues of Scottish Raptor can be accessed here.