Tracking the seabirds’ trail vital to protect them
EVERY year, all over the world, millions of birds are on the move. Our skies are vast flyways, criss-crossed with bird migration routes much in the same way as our world is connected by a vast network of flight paths.
The journeys made by these birds to find suitable sites to feed and breed are often epic in scale and over the next few months RSPB South Stack will become a busy destination for many of our much-loved seabirds.
Unfortunately, many seabird species are in decline, pressures at sea include changes to seabird food supply, including prey like sandeel (linked to climate change); poorly sited developments in sensitive seabird areas; and disturbance at breeding sites. Seabird tracking
Seabirds are admired as wanderers of the vast ocean; where seabirds go when they leave their colonies to find food has, until recently, largely been a mystery. This has made it extremely challenging to put effective conservation measures in place beyond the colony. The huge declines in some seabird populations seen in recent years, as well as the UK’s international importance for seabirds, means answering this question is critical to protect these incredible birds.
Seabird tracking, using a new generation of smaller, lighter tags, is a game-changer. Tracking technology has improved massively. The size and weight of GPS tags has reduced considerably allowing a far greater number of seabirds to be tracked.
The tags are generally attached to the bird’s back using special tape, and birds are re-caught just a few days later to retrieve the tag and its valuable data, before it falls off naturally. The tags allow us to observe the birds’ movements to a very high resolution – they record a position once every 100 seconds to an accuracy of about 20 metres.
FAME (Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment fameproject.eu) and STAR (Seabird Tracking and Research) are twin projects in which the RSPB, in
collaboration with partners and a consortium of funders, have undertaken tracking of multiple species of seabirds from colonies around the coast of the UK, including South Stack since 2010.
All our tracking work is carried out following licensing requirements from the British Trust for Ornithology, under licence by the relevant statutory agencies. Minimising disturbance to the birds and colonies is a top priority and something we take very seriously, taking great care.
As part of the project, RSPB scientists looked at the characteristics of the locations where our tracked birds went and used these to scientifically predict where other individuals from other colonies of that species are likely to go. They considered the effects of influences such as the distance from their breeding site, the size of the colony of birds there, how much competition there is from neighbouring colonies of birds, as well as environmental characteristics that were likely to affect the distribution of their food species.
We now have a vast amount of new and exciting information at our fingertips, the kind of data not attainable just a few years ago. It means we can advocate for conservation action where it is needed the most, support sustainable use of our seas and help us meet our international and national obligations to protect seabirds and marine biodiversity.
This year Welsh Government will begin a process to consider whether nationally-important areas of our sea should be given protection. RSPB Cymru will be actively involved, advocating for this process to consider the needs of species such as seabirds. Only with proper safeguards at sea and on land can we ensure seabirds continue to frequent our coastlines into the future.
What’s about at South Stack this month?
Guillemot, razorbill, puffin, chough, peregrine falcon, raven, skylark, meadow pipit, rock pipit, stonechat, wren, gannet, curlew, kestrel, porpoise and linnet. Building work update
We’re improving the visitor centre and café. This new development will provide visitors with better facilities, including a stunning ground-to-ceiling view from the café to South Stack’s dramatic spectacle, as well as a new café seating area and toilets.
The building work is scheduled to take place between now and September 2019.
The nature reserve will remain open throughout, including Elin’s Tower, so visitors can see the seabirds and discover more about the amazing wildlife. However, the Visitor Centre, shop, café, toilets and play area will be closed during construction. Temporary catering and toilet facilities are available on site. There may also be days (such as during demolition) when the main car park will be closed. The two smaller car parks (above and below the main parking area) will be open throughout.
We look forward to seeing you and do look out for updates and information about the timing of the works by calling 01407 762100 or visit our Twitter @RSPBSouthStack
Car park update
Throughout the rebuilding of the Visitor Centre, vehicles will be free for the first two hours, thereafter £2.50 for the whole day. Parking will remain free to RSPB members (if membership card is displayed on the dashboard) and blue badge permit holders. Charges apply from 9am-5pm. No overnight parking will be permitted.
We would love to hear your stories, experiences and local knowledge of South Stack. Visit us at the reserve; give us a call or send us an email.
RSPB South Stack, South Stack, Holyhead, Anglesey, LL65 1YH, 01407 762100, south.stack@rspb. org.uk, rspb.org.uk/southstack