Five seabird species have been newly added to the UK’s red list of birds in urgent need of conservation, joining species like the puffin.

Among the new entries are the Arctic tern, famed for its remarkable migration, and the great skua, known as the “pirate of the sea,” along with two types of gull.

The UK’s coastal cliffs are renowned for hosting large seabird colonies, but these populations are declining under increasing pressures such as climate change, food shortages, and habitat loss.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is urging the government to take swift action to address what it calls a “dire situation.”

“As an island nation, it is perhaps not surprising that we are globally important for seabird populations,” RSPB global conservation director Katie-jo Luxton said.

“But what has really shocked us is the sheer number of our seabird species now on the red list.”

Of the 26 seabird species that breed on UK coastlines and islands, 10 are now on the red list. The new additions are:

• Great black-backed gull: A large gull with black wings and a strong beak, nesting on coasts, clifftops, rooftops, and islands.
• Great skua: Nicknamed the “pirate of the sea” for stealing from other species, it was severely impacted by avian flu.
• Leach’s storm petrel: A reclusive seabird that nests on offshore islands, particularly in north-west Scotland.
• Common gull: Despite its name, this medium-sized gull is relatively rare, nesting around northern lakes in England and Scotland.
• Arctic tern: A coastal bird with white feathers and a black cap, breeding in northern UK and migrating to Antarctica in winter.

Previously listed seabirds include the puffin, kittiwake, herring gull, roseate tern, and Arctic skua. The decline of these seabirds is driven by climate change, unsustainable fishing, offshore renewable energy development, and habitat destruction.

According to the recent Seabirds Count, the largest UK seabird survey in 20 years, 62% of the UK’s seabird species are in decline. Kittiwakes and common gulls have seen nearly a 50% reduction, while puffin numbers have dropped by a quarter.

“We should be really concerned about this, because the UK is really important for breeding seabirds,” British Trust for Ornithology surveys head Dawn Balmer said.

Jean Duggan, RSPB’s marine policy officer, called the situation a “wake-up call.”

“It’s not just about safeguarding these species for ourselves at home, it’s also safeguarding global populations and preventing future extinctions,” she said.

However, there is positive news for some species: the shag has moved from the red list to amber, and the black guillemot from amber to green.

Overall, 73 of the 245 bird species regularly seen in the UK, including seabirds, farmland, woodland, and garden birds, are now on the red list—30% of the total.

 

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