News Releases
Foxes most likely responsible for lamb predation
13 February, 2024
New research investigating reports of badger predation on lambs on Scottish farms has found that foxes were responsible.
New guidance to protect gull populations in serious decline
06 February, 2024
NatureScot has updated guidance for gull licensing in response to significant and serious declines in all five species that breed in Scotland.
Stepping up efforts to save Scotland’s critically endangered chough
23 January, 2024
Efforts to save Scotland’s critically endangered population of chough must step up, as studies predict the bird may become extinct in Scotland within decades, according to a new NatureScot report.
Scotland’s terrestrial breeding bird numbers show effects of climate change
11 January, 2024
A new report from NatureScot has shown that the effects of hotter and wetter weather are creating significant changes to the numbers and species of birds thriving in urban, woodland, upland and farmland habitats. Climate change, which has seen wetter summers and warmer winters in Scotland, has caused increases to some bird populations and decreases for others.
Statistical News Release: Index of abundance for Scottish terrestrial breeding birds, 1994 to 2022
11 January, 2024
An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland
Rum National Nature Reserve welcomes newest residents
28 December, 2023
Rum National Nature Reserve (NNR) welcomed some new residents this year with the arrival of two rare Highland pony foals.
Visitors reminded of guidance with record number of seal pups at Forvie
22 December, 2023
Visitors to NatureScot’s Forvie National Nature Reserve (NNR) are being reminded of guidance to protect seals with the reserve home to a record number of pups.
Woodland regeneration increases by 25% at Highlands National Nature Reserve
21 December, 2023
Naturally regenerating trees have increased by around 25% in six years at Invereshie and Inshriach National Nature Reserve (NNR), a new survey shows.
Scotland’s top 10 winter birds: where and when to see them
19 December, 2023
NatureScot is encouraging people to get out into nature over the festive period to try and spot 10 types of winter bird.
First breeding record at Forvie for rare UK gull
18 December, 2023
Mediterranean gulls were confirmed as breeding at Forvie this year in what is thought to be the first-ever record for Scotland.