5/25/2006

The Daily Mail (London, England)

By Andrew Tolmie

With its elusive ways and solitary nature, it has always been a rare sight on Scotland's hills and mountains.

But now the ring ouzel is facing extinction as climate change threatens to wipe out its food supply.

Often known as the mountain blackbird, it likes to nest in gullies and searches for food on patches of grass and moorland.

But a new report claims the rise in Scotland's summer temperatures is drying out the ground and reducing the availability of earthworms and wild berry crops.

Since 1990, the UK ring ouzel population has fallen by nearly 60 per cent to little more than 6,000 pairs, and a further decline is predicted.

Research from the RSPB suggests the drastic drop in numbers is linked to warmer temperatures in July and August, just after the chicks fledge.

Now experts plan to track 25 of the birds from the Highlands using radio equipment to help find ways of stemming the ring ouzel's decline.

Dr Colin Beale, whose team carried out the study now published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, said conservationists were concerned for the bird's future. He said: 'The drop in ring ouzel numbers is not caused by reduced nesting success by the birds - in fact, this has increased as the population has declined.

' Instead, it seems the problems begin after the breeding season when the chicks have fledged.

'Changes in climate are perhaps affecting what is available for them to eat, leaving them in a poor condition to migrate in September.' The ring ouzel looks similar to a blackbird, but adults stand out because of a white crescent on their breasts. They can be difficult to spot, but are sometimes seen in the Angus Glens or Moorfoot Hills south of Edinburgh, where many breed before migrating to Morocco for the winter.

The species is 'red listed' by the RSPB, meaning its population decline has put it in the highest risk group and urgent action is needed to protect its future.

Dr Jeremy Wilson, head of research for RSPB Scotland, said fitting some birds with radio tags and studying their behavior could help ensure the ring ouzel is not wiped out.

He said: 'It is one of the UK's least studied and most poorly understood birds, which is why our research into its problems is so vital.

'We're hoping this tagging project will help us find out more about what these birds feed on, what habitats they use and how far they disperse from their breeding areas before they migrate.

'The findings could be crucial in helping to manage upland areas better for ring ouzels.'