Fersiwn Gymraeg ar gael yma
The Manx Shearwater is perhaps Wales’ greatest secret. Despite Wales holding over 50% of the global population, very few people have ever seen this incredible seabird.
Millions of years of evolution have led to the Manx Shearwater’s strategy of breeding in burrows on islands free of ground predators, and only coming ashore at night to avoid being eaten by larger birds. Long wings, for undertaking an epic migration to the coast of Argentina, coupled with legs set to the rear of the body to aid swimming, makes for a top-heavy, ungainly gait on land which would make them easy prey if they came ashore by day.
Each spring, the Manx Shearwater, fulfils the outstanding journey from the coasts of Argentina in the south Atlantic to Welsh islands. Usually, by the new moon periods in April, the night air on Welsh islands, like RSPB Ramsey, is filled with their unmistakeable cry as birds head to the exact same burrow they bred in last year and possibly for the past 30 or 40 years before that too!
Out of all species, Wales is most internationally significant for the Manx Shearwater populations it supports; giving a home to a whopping 50% of these seabirds. More needs to be done to keep it this way.
The story of Manx Shearwater on RSPB Ramsey Island
Way back in the mid 1800’s fierce gales battered the coast of Ramsey Island in Pembrokeshire and drove many a cargo ship to their premature end on the island’s jagged rocks. These gales were to shape the burrowing seabird populations of RSPB Ramsey Island for the next 150 years, as brown rats swarmed ashore and soon decimated the once thriving Puffin, Storm Petrel and Manx Shearwater populations.
In 1999/2000 under the guidance of Wildlife Management International from New Zealand, the RSPB undertook an ambitious rat eradication programme, the biggest island to be tackled in the UK at the time. The success of this project paved the way for more recent eradications which the RSPB were involved in on Lundy, Scilly and the Shiants.
In 1998, the year before eradication, there were just 897 pairs of Manx Shearwaters breeding on RSPB Ramsey Island, with very few chicks successfully fledging. In the first full survey after the rats had gone in 2007, this number had jumped to 2,387 pairs. Just last year, our latest census reported 6,225 pairs! Free from the pressure of marauding rats, shearwaters are booming!
It is vitally important that RSPB Ramsey Island remains rat-free. We have robust biosecurity measures in place to try and prevent re-infestation not only by rats but any other alien ground predators, such as house mice and hedgehogs. However, island restorations and the ongoing protection of breeding sites are only half the battle to safeguard seabirds like Manx Shearwater. Areas where shearwaters feed and migrate are of equal importance.
Seabird conservation
Given the wide-ranging nature of the Manx Shearwater, capable of travelling to waters off the Isle of Man and back in a day to feed and spending six months of the year in the southern hemisphere, the need to properly manage activities at sea is vital.
Seabirds are a key indicator of the overall health of marine ecosystems, but populations around the UK have fallen drastically in recent decades, including some in Wales. Sadly, threats to seabirds are increasing, driven by climate change and human activities at sea. Delivering conservation action for seabirds whilst they are at sea is challenging – it’s far better to reduce the threats they face. Therefore carefully planning how human activities at sea take place, and where they take place, is vital.
The Welsh Government have committed to developing a Seabird Conservation Strategy. It is vital that this is published this year, with dedicated funding available to deliver the actions it identifies.
Take a minute to send the Welsh Government a 'Seabird Postcard', reminding them to Save our Seabirds!