The population of curlew wading birds in Orkney is experiencing a resurgence following efforts to reduce the number of predatory stoats in the area. In 2019, a culling program aimed at stoats, which are considered an invasive species in the islands, was initiated. A survey conducted at that time indicated a 50% decline in the curlew population over a decade. However, recent data from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) shows a 21% increase in the number of curlews in Orkney, contrasting with the trends on mainland Scotland and other parts of the UK.
Since the launch of the Orkney Native Wildlife Project’s stoat removal initiative in 2019, the estimated number of breeding pairs of curlew per square kilometer has risen from 12 to an average of 14.5. Over 7,000 stoats have been removed as part of what is considered to be the most extensive predator eradication program conducted on an inhabited island. Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, expressed delight at the positive impact of the project on vulnerable species in Orkney and highlighted the promising signs of curlew population recovery.
The presence of stoats in Orkney, first observed in 2010, remains a mystery in terms of their origin. Speculation suggests they may have been inadvertently transported with cargo from the mainland or intentionally released to control rabbit populations. Apart from curlews, stoats represent a danger to various native species such as the Orkney vole, short-eared owl, and hen harrier. The Orkney Native Wildlife Project utilizes lethal traps to ethically eliminate stoats, with over 40 individuals engaged in the eradication efforts and specially-trained dogs aiding in locating these animals. While curlew numbers are on the rise in Orkney, populations continue to decline on mainland Scotland and other regions, with surveys indicating a 13% decrease between 2012 and 2022 and a broader UK-wide decline of approximately 50% since 1995
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