Shiants episode six: The next phase begins
Welcome to the sixth instalment of our work on the Shiant Isles Recovery Project from Alex Kekewich. The project is an initiative to remove non-native black rats from the isles in order to provide safe breeding sites for Scotland’s globally important seabird colonies. It is part funded by the EU LIFE+ programme and is a partnership between RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Nicolson family, who have been the custodians of the Shiant Isles for three generations.
Since our last blog lots has happened on the Shiant Isles. The winter rat eradication team finished up their work and left the islands for a well earned rest at the end of March. With no signs of rats since Christmas time we are hopeful that we’ve been successful in turning the Shiants into rat free islands, though it will be two years before they can be officially declared rat free and we need to remain vigilant, especially with regard to biosecurity.
Here, Alex, a research assistant in the team who arrived in April to spend the summer on the Shiants, gives us an update on how the project is progressing.
Surveying vegetation (John Tayton)
After the eradication of the black rats carried out over the winter the summer team are now continuing into the next phase of the project by spending four months, April through to August, surveying the islands’ birds, plants and invertebrates to see what effect removing the rats has had on the local wildlife. We have now been working on the Shiants for two months, reaching the half way point for our time here. Our team consists of Johnny our senior research assistant and veteran of the winter project on the Shiants and two research assistants, Ian and myself. This is my first surveying contract and so is a great opportunity for me to learn a range of new skills and experience as well as a spend time in a wonderful location surrounded by spectacular wildlife.
The Shiants consist of three islands, two of which we are carrying out daily surveys on and the third which can only be accessed by boat. Joe and Charles Engebret who do an amazing job of ferrying us to and from the island (as well as delivering any fresh fish or emergency chocolate) also deposit us on Mary Island to carry out monthly land bird surveys. These boat trips are always exciting and provide a great chance to observe the seabirds and cetaceans from close up, though in heavy weather or rough seas it is better to keep your head down!
Descending the slopes (John Tayton)
Our workload is varied and each day has something different in store for us, whether it’s getting to grips with rope work for descending slopes to check how the breeding guillemots are doing, clambering over boulders to find puffin burrows, dodging an aerial bombardment from the bonxies or getting to grips with the local flora in the islands’ bogs and heathland. It’ss great to witness the breeding season progress, watching the shags bring in all sorts of debris washed up on the shoreline to line their nests with or the pied wagtails, wrens and wheatears investigating the cracks and crevices of the old dry stone walls of the black houses.More recently we’ve watched the seabirds returning to land with a beak full of sand eels, or heard the alarm calls of the oystercatchers along the coastline as their newly hatched chicks take shelter, relying on their camouflage amongt the lichen encrusted boulders.
Razorbill chick (John Tayton)
We have also had fantastic views of some of the Hebrides’ other wildlife including Rissos dolphins, gannets and both golden and white tailed eagles which are regularly seen soaring above the bay, until the nesting great skuas drive them away. Fortunately the resident pair of peregrines seem to escape the skuas’ assaults and can regularly be seen riding the winds or perched on the sea cliffs. We also find regular leftovers from their hunts on the shore line, with so many auks and fulmars nearby; there is no risk of them going hungry!
https://vimeo.com/175206199
Storm petrels filmed on the Shiant Isles - an important step for the project
A real highlight for us has been the installation of nest boxes and sound systems to try and attract storm petrels and Manx shearwaters to the Shiants, species that are known to be nesting on other islands in the Minch but up until now had been unable to colonise the Shiants due to the predation from rats. However, with the rats gone and new accommodation provided we are hopeful that they may become permanent residents.
Excitingly, only three weeks after we started trying to attract these birds back we were lucky enough to witness storm petrels flying just over our heads and walking around the boulders! Although we have found no evidence they are nesting just yet these are very positive signs for the future
The Shiant Isles Recovery Project is a partnership between RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Nicolson Family, it is funded by EU LIFE+ Nature [LIFE13 NAT/UK/000209 – LIFE Shiants] and private donations. The eradication is being led by Wildlife Management International with the support of Engebrets and Sea Harris Ltd.