A recent study from the University of Aberdeen found that seabirds are the most at risk bird species, due to the competition they face from the fishing industry for food.

The scientists found that annual fishery catches had risen from 59 to 65 million tonnes a year since the 1970s, leaving birds struggling to find food.

Dr Aurore Ponchom, from the University’s School of Biological Sciences awho co-led the study: “As we know that most of seabird species cannot easily change their diet, it is unlikely that they will switch to other prey species, so fisheries might partly be responsible for the observed seabird population decline.

“Competition with fisheries add up with other threats such as climate change, breeding habitat destruction or pollution, which makes the world seabird population at risk.”

Mr Clarke said everyone had a role to play in solving the problem: “In the last century just about every aspect of daily life has changed, but regardless of social, political and economic shifts the RSPB has stayed true to its mission to save nature.

“This is not something we can do alone, so we must look at saving nature through people. We need to not just inspire people from all walks of life from politicians to school children to recognise and understand their connection with nature, but we must motivate and provide the tools for every individual to take action and every organisation to recognise it can be part of the solution.”