Latest news with #StormPetrel
Irish Independent
19-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Nature Trail: BirdWatch Ireland calls on Government to do more to protect important seabirds
The small, five-page publication does exactly what it says on the cover: it identifies both the coastal and the marine areas in Ireland that are important for seabirds, and it makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing decision-making process aimed at designating areas suitable for offshore energy projects, like windfarms, and heritage sites worthy of designation as marine protected areas (MPAs). Ireland has on the one hand, commitments to rapidly develop offshore energy projects and, on the other hand, to protect 30% of its marine territory by 2030 for both marine and maritime biodiversity. Currently, just shy of 10% of Ireland's marine territory is subject to some form of protection, less than 2% of it specifically for the 24 species of breeding seabird that Ireland's marine territory supports. BirdWatch Ireland uses a traffic light system to assess the conservation status of all wild birds on the island of Ireland. Of the 24 species of seabirds that breed in Ireland, 23 are currently either amber or red listed. Globally one third of seabirds are considered threatened and half of them are declining in population. Ireland is hugely important for seabirds with up to three quarters of a million birds gathering at colonies every year to nest. The island is of internationally importance for breeding Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel and Roseate Tern. The new BirdWatch Ireland initiative features a map identifying the 73 most important areas for Ireland's seabirds. Of the 73 areas 24 are wholly marine and are important feeding grounds .Forty-nine of the 73 areas are coastal and 41 of them are already designated as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for wild birds. The remaining eight currently undesignated breeding sites need to be considered for designation BirdWatch is calling on the Irish government to designate all seabird important bird areas as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds under the Birds Directive, to review existing SPA boundaries and revise them as appropriate, to develop management plans for all SPAs, and to develop bird sensitivity maps to inform strategic spatial planning of marine activities. Full details regarding important seabird areas are available at
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Scotsman
17-05-2025
- General
- Scotsman
New owner of Scottish island and his plan to help save Scotland's seabirds
Càrn Deas in the Summer Isles has a new owner with a grand plan. Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A businessman who fulfilled a 'lifelong dream' by buying a Scottish island wants to set up a centre on its shores to help save Scotland's seabirds. Robert Graham, of Moffat in the Borders, now owns Càrn Deas in the Summer Isles, which spans just 22 acres. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Graham, who is understood to have headed up an IT company, has applied to Highland Council to create a bird observatory and education centre on the island far from the 'constantly connected world'. It would be home to his new charity, the Summer Isles Organisation for Avian Restoration. However he is facing opposition to the plans from NatureScot, which is concerned about the potential impact on storm petrels. Mr Graham, in an earlier report to planners, spoke of his love of nature forged in childhood and the role Càrn Deas will play in helping children and adults make similar connections with the natural world. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'It is extremely difficult in today's constantly connected world that we live in, to get a sense of separation to build a relationship with our natural environment. 'In many cases the relationship an individual has with the natural environment is borne from childhood experiences, leading to an interest and a need to regain those nostalgic feelings of excitement and wonder with the natural world around us. 'As we have progressed into a more technology connected environment,the opportunity to establish that connection has become more difficult to achieve. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'In many cases the default position of a child or young adult is in front of a device unaware of the environment in their immediate vicinity. 'The purpose of the Càrn Deas Trust will be to offer that opportunity for children and adults alike to establish a connection with nature that will hopefully accompany them throughout their life, as it has myself.' It is proposed that the centre becomes a hub for seabird habitat preservation and restoration which can be accessed by local people, visitors and academics. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Summer Isles is home to a number of fragile species of seabirds, including the Storm Petrel which breeds on neighbouring Priest Isle. A 79 per cent loss in numbers of the species nationwide was reported by RSPB Scotland last year amid a 'devastating decline' in seabird populations overall. Mr Graham said he will use community engagement, scientific research and conservation efforts to 'ensure a thriving future for avian species and the ecosystems that depend on them'. Storm Petrels are one of the seabird species which breed in the Summer Isles. | CC/Crossley ID Guide to British Birds/Richard Crossley Key aims of the SIOAR include habitat restoration to improve and protect critical nesting and feeding sites for marine birds. Invasive species will be controlled and removed, where possible, with native vegetation planted to support bird populations, which will be monitored at the observatory. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Information will be gathered on population trends, migration patterns and environmental threats, with data used to support populations of threatened marine birds and the development of new policy. Mr Graham has been in talks with NatureScot over his plans. This week, the government agency objected to his proposals given the impact the development of the observatory and education centre could have on the population of Storm Petrels on Priest Island, a Special Protected Area (SPA ) for the species. Storm Petrels also breed on Càrn Deas and the populations on both islands are likely to be connected. A letter from NatureScot to planners said: 'The proposed development has connectivity with an SPA of international importance for European Storm Petrel. 'The proposal could affect internationally important natural heritage interests and we therefore object to this proposal.'
