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| Seabird chicks 'killed over food' | Seabird chicks 'killed over food' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Food shortages have forced Scotland's seabirds to attack and kill chicks from neighbouring nests, experts have found. | Food shortages have forced Scotland's seabirds to attack and kill chicks from neighbouring nests, experts have found. |
| Leeds University researchers said young guillemots on the Isle of May colony, in the Firth of Forth, had been pecked to death or thrown off cliff edges. | Leeds University researchers said young guillemots on the Isle of May colony, in the Firth of Forth, had been pecked to death or thrown off cliff edges. |
| The study revealed that adult guillemots were having to spend so much time finding food in the last year that parents were leaving chicks unattended. | The study revealed that adult guillemots were having to spend so much time finding food in the last year that parents were leaving chicks unattended. |
| In the past attacks on chicks were extremely rare, the researchers said. | In the past attacks on chicks were extremely rare, the researchers said. |
| In July, the RSPB warned that the poor breeding of Scotland's seabirds was giving cause for "serious concern". | In July, the RSPB warned that the poor breeding of Scotland's seabirds was giving cause for "serious concern". |
| It said guillemot eggs had been left abandoned on cliffs as parent birds spent more time at sea in a search for food. | It said guillemot eggs had been left abandoned on cliffs as parent birds spent more time at sea in a search for food. |
| However, the latest study suggested that the problems do not end when chicks are successfully hatched. | However, the latest study suggested that the problems do not end when chicks are successfully hatched. |
| Adult guillemots were having to leave their chicks completely unattended, putting them at risk from exposure and the weather. | Adult guillemots were having to leave their chicks completely unattended, putting them at risk from exposure and the weather. |
| But many more died because of attacks from birds raising their own chicks on neighbouring nest sites, according to the study. | But many more died because of attacks from birds raising their own chicks on neighbouring nest sites, according to the study. |
| The scientists said the birds responsible were stressed, hungry and determined to stop other chicks from receiving food. | The scientists said the birds responsible were stressed, hungry and determined to stop other chicks from receiving food. |
| The findings have been published online in the Royal Society Journal Biology Letters. | The findings have been published online in the Royal Society Journal Biology Letters. |
| The experts said it indicated that social harmony, even in long-established colonies, could break down if conditions toughened, for example if the prospect of starvation looms. | The experts said it indicated that social harmony, even in long-established colonies, could break down if conditions toughened, for example if the prospect of starvation looms. |
| Kate Ashbrook, author of the study, said: "The attacks were brutal and usually involved more than one adult as chicks fled from the initial attacking neighbour. | Kate Ashbrook, author of the study, said: "The attacks were brutal and usually involved more than one adult as chicks fled from the initial attacking neighbour. |
| "More than two thirds of all documented chick deaths in the sample area were caused by attacks from neighbouring parents. | "More than two thirds of all documented chick deaths in the sample area were caused by attacks from neighbouring parents. |
| "Yet this particular colony has been monitored for almost 30 years, and in that time chick attacks have been very rare." | "Yet this particular colony has been monitored for almost 30 years, and in that time chick attacks have been very rare." |
| 'Hungry neighbour' | 'Hungry neighbour' |
| Guillemots rear only one chick during the breeding season, which runs from April to July. | Guillemots rear only one chick during the breeding season, which runs from April to July. |
| Because the young birds are vulnerable to attack from predatory gulls, parents rarely leave them unattended and take it in turns to find food. | Because the young birds are vulnerable to attack from predatory gulls, parents rarely leave them unattended and take it in turns to find food. |
| However, a decline in prey in recent years has led to both parents being forced to search for food at the same time. | However, a decline in prey in recent years has led to both parents being forced to search for food at the same time. |
| The researchers witnessed almost half of all chicks unattended at some point during the day. | The researchers witnessed almost half of all chicks unattended at some point during the day. |
| Co-author Professor Sarah Wanless said: "This research highlights how fragile the social fabric of a seabird colony is. | Co-author Professor Sarah Wanless said: "This research highlights how fragile the social fabric of a seabird colony is. |
| "Having a stressed, hungry neighbour isn't good news if you're an unattended guillemot chick." | "Having a stressed, hungry neighbour isn't good news if you're an unattended guillemot chick." |
| The study was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. | The study was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. |