Following the first season of the St Kilda Marine Ranger it is possible to submit a summary of the breeding results of the seabirds around the archipelago.

 

Fulmar population plots- all plots counted in 2005 showed a decline in numbers of birds since the last count in 2003 (ranging from 0.7% to 13.8%), but in no case was this statistically significant. It would appear that the significant decline in fulmar numbers detected by population plot monitoring between 1999 and 2003 has currently either slowed to a point where it is masked by the level of daily variability and is therefore not statistically significant. or has halted so that numbers are now stable.

Guillemot population plots -numbers appear to have been relatively stable between 1990 and 2003, but this year significant declines (ranging from 15 to 30%) were detected in 10 out of the 15 plots monitored.

Razorbill population plots -numbers appear to have been stable between 1990 and 2003, and no significant changes were found this year.

Leach's petrel populations -it appears that there may well have been a slight decline in numbers of Leach's petrels in the Lover’s Stone area (14% since 2003), although with the use of a non-standard methodology these results should be treated with caution.

Leach's petrel nest boxes -two boxes were investigated by birds this year (presumably prospecting pre-breeders) but no nests were built.

Storm petrels in the Village -a total of 39 ADS was found in the Village area compared with 76 in 1999, a significant decline.

Puffin productivity -the poorest year on record for puffin productivity on Dun, with only 0.26 chicks fledged per egg laid (previous lowest figure, in 1985, was 0.44). All indications seem to be that starvation was the major cause of chick death.

Kittiwake population -kittiwake numbers appear to be continuing their rapid decline on Hirta, as monitored by land-based counts, having nearly halved again in just two years (171 ADN in 2005 compared with 322 AON in 2003). The reduction in numbers is most marked on the northeast coast of Hirta, where numbers of ADN have reduced from 138 in 2003 to just 9 in 2005. It is possible that birds may simply have moved to alternative sites on the island group, but the poor productivity figures in recent years suggest that kittiwakes are indeed declining on St Kilda.

Oystercatchers -a total of 12 territories were mapped, continuing the long-term decline in numbers from a total of 48 prs in 1963 to 14 prs in 2001. Breeding success also appeared to be poor, and there was evidence of great skua predation of adult birds.