Welcome to the twenty-ninth stoat snippet!
These snippets are a short update on progress with both the Orkney Native Wildlife Project and the Orkney Mainland Predator Invasion Biosecurity Project, as well as addressing any concerns that folk have raised with SNH and RSPB Scotland.
If you are new to these snippets and want to know more about the project, check out this blog.
Invasive Species Week
The self-guided nature trail that we installed at RSPB Scotland Brodgar nature reserve was making attempts to escape in the Orkney weather. To avoid adding to any plastic pollution we have removed the trail a little earlier than planned.
We will be putting some of the questions on our Facebook page instead so look out for those and test your non-native species knowledge!
After taking part in INNS week we are keeping up our international links. One of our project team, Bea, has just returned to Orkney after going on a sabbatical to the Antipodes, South of New Zealand, to work on a mouse eradication project to protect the important seabirds that nest there and to bring some important knowledge back. Read more here: http://milliondollarmouse.org.nz/2018/03/13/life-on-the-island/
Orkney Mainland Predator Invasion Biosecurity Project
All the biosecurity traps have been checked over the past week. Three stoats were caught, all of which had changed back into summer pelage, with no ermine ones being sighted.
Incursion responses
Hoy: Work is continuing to try and determine whether there is one or many stoats present. The traps and cameras have been checked again this week and there is still no evidence of stoats on camera or traps. Although, as always, we captured some of Hoy’s other residents including some starlings and a lamb. The close starling is a beautiful male. Did you know that you can tell it's a male because of the pale blue base to the bill?
However, we are also investigating a reported sighting. We really need people to be vigilant and to please remember, if you think you’ve seen a stoat on Hoy or South Walls please report it immediately by phone or email.
Dani our Graduate Placement gave a talk about the project to Hoy and Walls Gardening Club on Saturday. It was good to talk to some Hoy residents about the work that we are doing on Hoy and in Orkney, so thanks to everyone who came along.
We need your help!
We are currently looking for people from Hoy, or anyone who can access Hoy easily, to volunteer to be part of a local team skilled in finding stoat sightings! Suitable volunteers will be trained to use our thermal imaging camera and in other techniques. Do get in touch if you are interested.
Answering your concerns…
Remember, if you have any comments or concerns please contact north@snh.gov.uk or orkney@rspb.org.uk.
Once again, don't forget to keep reporting any sightings of stoats, as soon as possible, to SNH by calling 01856 886163, by emailing north@snh.gov.uk or through the ‘Stoats in Orkney’ Facebook page.
And to keep up-to-date with the project, please follow our Facebook page