Following on from the last blog which showed the status of breeding birds on Ramsey in 2013, this blog will compare the situation with 40 years ago in 1973. The data in 1973 was compiled by the late Shaun White who was RSPB warden on Ramsey in that period. The island was not owned by the RSPB back then but the private owner allowed RSPB to have a seasonal warden on site from March to October.
In summary, there were 39 species breeding on Ramsey and the Bishops and Clerks in 2013 compared to 42 in 1973.
There were 9 species breeding in 1973 that no longer breed here – cormorant, moorhen, snipe, cuckoo, song thrush, robin (although has bred in some recent years), grey wagtail, starling and reed bunting.
Likewise there are 6 species that breed now that did not in 1973 – storm petrel, Canada goose, peregrine, house martin, whitethroat and great tit.
Of the 48 species that bred in total over the 2 years in question, 25 had higher populations in 2013, 18 lower and 5 were the same
Overall seabirds are up with higher populations of fulmar, Manx shearwater, storm petrel, guillemot, razorbill and puffin (Bishops and Clerks only). However there were decreases in the 3 large gull species, kittiwake and shag.
Kittiwake populations have been in decline at colonies across the UK for the past decade or more. The Ramsey population has fallen from 473 pairs in 1973 to 139 pairs in 2013. There are many reasons why this might be happening with changes in sea temperatures interrupting food supply being one of the main theories. In Ramsey’s case we are left with small, fragmented sub-colonies and while these are more susceptible to predation there is no strong evidence for this here. In fact all main kittiwake predators are at a much lower level today that they were 40 years ago. Herring gull, now a red listed species, has seen a decrease from 1,418 pairs to 221 in that period (there was a note in the 1973 log saying that a paper was to be written on the ‘gull problem’). Other predators such as great black backed gull and raven are also lower now than in 1973.
Lapwing numbers are down as they are nationally. Ramsey is not ideal habitat for this species and their sporadic appearance on the island over the years has often been in association with ‘overspill’ birds from a healthy mainland population. Sadly this is no longer the case and today, in most years, Ramsey supports the only breeding birds in Pembrokeshire. However this year we were down to just a single pair. With no local population to sustain the outliers on Ramsey it is likely that this iconic species will soon disappear from Pembrokeshire.
But let’s end on a positive note! The rat eradication project in 2000 has undoubtedly helped several species. Manx shearwater numbers have increased significantly, as have wheatear and storm petrel is a new species breeding here. Most small passerine numbers are up too which, in some cases, could also be linked to the removal of rats.
The following is a full comparative list between 1973 and 2013
All units are 'pairs' apart from guillemot, razorbill and puffin which are counted as 'individuals'
some of the figures for 2013 relate to earlier years (2012 and in the case of storm petrel 2010) - see previous blog for full details
P = bred but not monitored