The Nature of Scotland

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) is supplementing their sumptuous
two-volume The Birds of Scotland with the launch of a digital version.
Keeping up traditions
in a digital era
Available since 2008, the last of the 3,500 printed
copies was recently sold at auction. With over one
million words, 1,600 pages and featuring no fewer
than 509 bird species this substantial publication
provided the definitive account of the state of
Scotland’s birds. The production of a digital copy
on CD will ensure that this essential reference tool
remains available.
A digital counterpart to The Birds of Scotland is a
completely new venture for the SOC, and the hope is
that the CD version will further extend the reach of this
comprehensive work.
The publication, of course, is no newcomer to the scene.
Indeed the most recent edition updates two earlier works.
Scottish Natural Heritage helped fund the third edition and
our predecessor bodies – Nature Conservancy Council and
Countryside Commission for Scotland – had strong links
with the earlier volumes.
It was in 1953 that Drs. Evelyn Baxter and Leonora
Rintoul published their ground-breaking The Birds of
Scotland. Costing 63 shillings, two lovingly-crafted hardback
volumes covered the history, distribution and migration
of Scottish birds, setting a new benchmark for quality
Scottish wildlife books. As the Times Literary Supplement
noted at the time, the book was a reference work that moved
“beyond reciting size, song, plumage and nest” and benefited
from “excellent production standards”. Featuring drawings by
George Lodge, and a number of high-quality photographs,
the two volumes helped make both ladies well-known
beyond the ornithological world. The books became known
simply as “B & R” and the meticulous research, engaging
text and sheer enthusiasm leapt from the pages.
Just over 30 years later Valerie Thom updated the story
in style by issuing a new volume. Keeping her work to a
manageable size was the main challenge. In just under 400
pages she managed to feature species numbers, habitat
status and all of the associated issues in what was a highly
popular update, praised for its brevity and concise summary
of progress. A trust established by ‘the good ladies’ (as
Baxter and Rintoul became known) went a considerable way
to making that 1986 version possible.
For the current version, put together by nine editors with
157 expert contributors, Scottish Natural Heritage was able
to provide a warmly welcomed grant towards publication
22 The Nature of Scotland