"Disastrous" Season For Scottish Seabirds - Cliffs Normally Packed Stand Empty After Chicks' Deaths

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Scotland's seabirds are having a "disastrous" breeding season, according to RSPB Scotland. It said mid-season reports had found cliffs, where there should be thousands of birds, almost empty.

Parts of Shetland, Orkney and Cape Wrath in the Highlands were among the worst affected. RSPB Scotland said climate change appeared to be disrupting food supply, but added that more research would need to be done.

The charity said Scotland's coastline supported 45% of the European Union's seabird breeding population. It said that for some areas the season was worse than last year and heading towards being the worst since a "dreadful" 2004 season.

However, reserves on the east coast such as Fowlsheugh and Troup Head along with southern colonies like Mull of Galloway were doing better, but still down on previous years.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6904338.stm