In this blog post we wanted to touch on a slightly less enjoyable side of our roles here in Shetland, and indeed a common theme for colleagues around the country too.
Disturbance.
Disturbance comes in various forms, often perfectly innocent, through lack of understanding and awareness, to that at the more sinister end of the scale.
Here in Scotland, we are fortunate to have the outdoor Scottish access code, that permits responsible access to the countryside, opening much of the landscape to responsible access.
It is that key word that I will focus on “responsible”. Although access can largely be enjoyed, and indeed encouraged, it cannot come at the detriment to wildlife.
Shetland is blessed with a wealth of special wildlife, many afforded the highest level of legal protection- known as Schedule 1. This relates to bird species that are particularly vulnerable to disturbance and whose populations are at threat or at risk, due to a variety of factors.
All birds are protected by law during the breeding season, and it is an offence to recklessly interfere with or damage/destroy a birds nest. Above that, Schedule 1 is an extra layer of protection that requires a special licence to potentially disturb these species, often for monitoring purposes, and always avoided where possible.
As Shetland has many special species of birds, they quite rightly receive the adulation of many visitors, who wish to observe them at close quarters- which we welcome of course. However, disturbance to these birds and their nests can and should be avoided.
As a prime example, lets focus on the Red-necked Phalarope, a magnificent little bird that we are fortunate to manage many of our sites for.
They are particularly vulnerable to disturbance, as they are perceived to be so confiding. A phalarope, won’t necessarily show it is disturbed in the same way as most others birds, only resorting to alarm calling and typical related behaviour when they have chicks near or eggs- and even this is not consistent and sometimes hugely delayed. The birds end up wasting time and energy on alarm and distraction displays which should be used on brooding eggs and looking after their chicks.
Chick handled under licence for ringing purposes
The main issue we encounter with disturbance to phalaropes is people entering and walking through their nesting habitat. Although the birds might be visible on a pool, if you are entering the nearby area, you are potentially within inches of a tiny nest or their minute chicks. We have seen this ourselves whilst out on sites - visitors walking through an area that we have then found chicks in - when newly hatched they are the size of a large bumblebee and easily not seen! Nests aren't always along the edge of the water either, they can be a distance away as the male will walk the chicks to the pools once hatched. Many of the phalarope sites are visible from behind a fence or stone wall, so entering the area is not needed and the phalaropes can be enjoyed without putting the birds, their eggs and chicks at risk of trampling. Anyone entering the area without a schedule 1 licence is also in breach of the law.
An example of habitat where chicks and nests can be found even though there isn't a typical pool
During the season we will introduce pop up view points where it is safe to watch phalaropes from in Fetlar, such as from the roadside at the Mires of Houbie in Fetlar.
We will keep updates going via this blog and social media.