Islands celebrate becoming ‘rat-free’ bird haven

SEABIRDS on a remote group of islands in the outer Hebrides face a brighter future after the total elimination of rats that ate their eggs and chicks.

Conservationists yesterday officially declared The Shiant Isles – a remote archipelago five miles east of Lewis and Harris – free of the rodents, thanks to a four-year project.

Scottish Natural Heritage and RSPB Scotland said a month-long intensive monitoring check found no sign of rats. This means that none has been recorded there for two years – the internationally agreed criterion for rat-free status.

The Shiants seabird recovery project started in 2014 and is a partnership between the Nicolson family, custodians of the islands for three generations, and the two organisations. It has benefited from the help of many volunteers, and significant private donations.

The islands are home to one of the most important seabird breeding colonies in Europe, hosting around 100,000 pairs of nesting seabirds each year.

Dr Charlie Main, senior project manager for the Shiant Isles Recovery Project said: ‘Over the next few years we’re really looking forward to seeing the full impact of the islands’ restoration flourish with the seabirds enjoying improved breeding successes, and other species beginning to breed there as well.’

Islands’ laird Tom Nicolson said: ‘This is a tremendous success story on so many levels. There are no limits to what the Shiants could become in the future.’