Fair Isle bird observatory reopens six years after fire
Fair Isle's famous bird observatory has reopened - six years after the building was destroyed in a huge fire. The £10m project has been a huge undertaking for the remote community, which lies half way between Orkney and Shetland. The island, which is just three miles long and has a population of 50, is considered one of the best places in Europe to see migrating birds. And the long-awaited reopening of the bird observatory has been welcomed by locals and visiting birdwatchers.
Eileen Thomson grew up on the island and lives there with her Argentinian partner, Guillermo Rotolo, and their sons Lucca, 10, and seven-year-old Ander. Their children make up two thirds of the island's tiny school roll. She said the observatory, which attracts hundreds of visitors a year to the island, was a key part of the community and had been missed over the last six years. "I always say to people it doubles the population for half a year and not only is it a great centre for people who are actually looking for rare birds," she added. "It brings us a lot of people, it brings us a lot of extra income to the isle. It brings us friends we meet."I've got two aunts and uncles who met at the bird observatory through work there."So it is really an integral part of the community here. We are delighted that it is back up and running."
The bird observatory, which is run by a charity, is a large guest house with views looking out to Fair Isle's Sheep Rock. Visitors get the opportunity to see wardens ringing the birds, learn about wildlife and occasionally spot a rare bird passing through during migration. The original wooden building was destroyed by fire in March 2019. It is believed to have started in the roof before spreading. Firefighters and equipment had to be flown by coastguard helicopter from the Shetland mainland, as there was just one fire engine on Fair Isle.Smoke could be seen for miles and the building was alight for nearly a full day. The warden, his wife and their children lost almost all of their belongings.
Donations to help fund the rebuild flooded in from bird watchers around the world.Multi-million pound grants were also secured from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish government and Shetland Islands Council. Fire-hit bird observatory wins £2.35m fundingShetland fires 'should act as warning to modular building industry'But it has been a challenging project as dozens of pre-fabricated modules have had to be shipped to the remote island. And when the main contractor went into administration, trustees took the project in-house to get it finished.
Alex Penn, the head of ornithology at the observatory, said it was good to see the building back up and running. "The facilities are fantastic and we're now open for guests and it's great to see the building really start to come alive," he added.
Marie Bruhat is helping to keep Fair Isle's knitwear tradition alive and knows the value of the observatory to the island.She moved from France several years ago and is bringing a contemporary eye to the famous designs. Fair Isle: The remote island where jumpers are always in fashion"It means that we get to have more people living here, even if it is only from March/April when they come to October/November," she said. "It is a big chunk of the year where there is maybe eight to 10 more people on the island because there is only 50 of us. "It makes a big difference to the social life and also having more tourists means potential customers for the knitwear business."
Birdwatcher Ian Andrews, from Musselburgh, was one of the first visitors to the new observatory. "It's got a world renowned reputation for having birds from all quarters whether it's from Siberia or the Mediterranean, Africa or even America," he told BBC Scotland News. "It draws in migrant birds from all directions including unusual ones which is probably the main attraction."
Jack Richards has travelled to the island from South Wales. "There's a mass of seabirds that come here every year looking to nest," he said. "There are birds here you would never see back home. "It's an amazing remote island. "There's not too many people here. It's more of a wildlife paradise. "You can just explore pretty much were ever you like. "It feels like you are in the wild in the UK and that doesn't happen that often."
Artists are drawn to the island too, inspired by the dramatic landscape, and the wildlife. Writer and illustrator Angela Harding has taken up a short residency. "It's such a place of drama and weather changes minute by minute and the landscape itself looks like a slab of rock that big bites have been taken out of," she said. "You can't really describe what it feels like unless you've done it, to stand at the top of the cliff and watch the seabirds whellin below you. Thousands of birds."Islanders hope that the opening of the bird observatory, along with the prospect of a new ferry, will help ensure a secure future for one of Scotland's most remote communities.
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