Red-throated and black-throated divers rising in Scotland

This is a video of a red-throated loon (diver), in winter plumage 4/5/07 Manasquan reservoir, New Jersey, USA.

From the BBC:

The success of a wild bird in Scotland despite declining numbers in the rest of Europe has mystified experts.

RSPB Scotland said it was delighted but puzzled by breeding figures for the red-throated diver.

The rarer black-throated diver is also on the increase, possibly thanks to the anchoring of man-made rafts in lochs.

A survey of divers by the RSPB and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) found the two species had increased in the UK by 16 and 34% in the last 12 years.

Both have declined in Europe and the black-throated diver was last week made a conservation priority by the UK Government because of the declines elsewhere.

In Scotland, its numbers rose from 187 pairs in 1994 to 217 pairs in 2006. …

The RSPB said it was a mystery as to why red-throated divers have done so well.

Its numbers have risen from 935 to 1,255 breeding pairs in 12 years.