Conservation Science in the RSPB 2006

38
survival rates of adult and juvenile
birds, possibly through limited
food availability.
Correlations between the annual change in a ring ouzel study
population in southern Scotland and average June–August
temperature (A) and precipitation (B) on the breeding grounds
in the previous summer. Average March/April rainfall on the
wintering grounds in Morocco two years previously is also
shown (C). A positive index of change value indicates a year
on year population increase, whilst a negative value indicates
a decline.
A
Although in the short term it may be
impossible to halt any continuing
trend towards warmer summers in
the breeding grounds, measures to
counter the negative climatic effects
may be possible through appropriate
management of feeding habitats in
both the UK and Morocco. A new
project has been started to
investigate habitat use and ranging
behaviour of adults and
fledglings during the critical late
summer period.
Contact:
james.pearce-higgins@rspb.org.uk
Risidual change
0.1
-0.1
-0.3
0.4
B
13.0 13.5 14.0 14.5 15.0 15.5
Average June-August temp (˚C), UK previous summer
Ring ouzel data were provided by D Arthur,
Grampian Ringing Group, the late W
Brotherston and the late I Appleyard, whilst
climate data were obtained through BADC.
Funding from the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club,
SNH, and a NERC CASE studentship
contributed either to data collection or analysis.
Beale CM, Burfield IJ, Sim IMW, Rebecca GW,
Pearce-Higgins JW and Grant MC (2006)
Climate change may account for the decline in
British ring ouzels Turdus torquatus. Journal of
Animal Ecology 75: 826–835.
Risidual change
0.2
0.0
-0.2
C
60 80 100 120
Average June-August rain (mm), UK previous summer
Buchanan GM, Pearce-Higgins JW, Wotton SR,
Grant MC and Whitfield DP (2003) Correlates of
the change in Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
abundance in Scotland from 1988–91 to 1999.
Bird Study 50: 97–105.
Wotton SR, Langston RHW and Gregory RD
(2002) The breeding status of the Ring Ouzel
(Turdus torquatus) in the UK in 1999. Bird Study
49: 26–34.
See also: 2002: 25
Risidual change
0.2
0.1
0.0
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
20 40 60 80
March/April precipitation, Morocco, 24 months previously