Forth Seabird Group

Counting Seabirds Since 1959

Close-up of gannet's head

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Welcome to the official website of the Forth Seabird Group. This voluntary group monitors seabird populations in the Firth of Forth, on the east coast of Scotland, with particular emphasis on the breeding seabird populations of the Forth Islands.

The data provided here consists of:

  • the original annual reports. These include the seabird species counts for a particular year, along with other observations on Forth wildlife
  • summary tables showing bird species by island by year
  • an examination of the data for key seabird species over time, examining some trends in populations
  • an examination of the methods employed

The Group monitors the breeding seabirds on all of the islands in the Firth of Forth from Bass Rock in the east, to Inchgarvie, under the Forth Bridge, in the west. To minimise disturbance the Group only make one annual visit to each island. Although the Group shows figures for the Isle of May, these figures are provided by the scientists from NatureScot and UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology who are resident on the island during the breeding season.

The Group gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance given by NatureScot and RSPB which covers the costs of boat hire. Both of these organisations value the quality and consistency of the data and are keen to support the Group in its activities. The Group has a good working relationship with the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick.

Please be aware that while every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the data shown on this site, the Forth Seabird Group cannot be held responsible for any liability resulting from its subsequent use or exploitation.

All information on this website is the property of the Forth Seabird Group. Anyone wishing to use anything from this website, for anything other than limited personal use, must first seek permission from the Group.