Standby for S.O.S. Puffin!
In yesterday’s post, I mentioned the fabulous conservation project, developed by the Scottish Seabird Centre, that is SOS Puffin. The scheme has been running since 2007, and relies entirely on the hard work and enthusiasm of a team of dedicated local volunteers. Work parties are ferried out to the islands of Craigleith and Fidra in the Firth of Forth... Their mission: to tackle the invasive Lavatera arborea, otherwise known as tree mallow.
Craigleith and Fidra are located just off the coast of North Berwick, East Lothian, and neighbour the famous Bass Rock, and The Lamb. This archipelago plays host to a rich variety of seabirds and marine mammals, including the biggest grey seal colony ever to be recorded on the east coast of Britain!
But what makes mallow such a menace? Well, Craigleith was once home to one of the largest puffin colonies in Britain - over 28,000 pairs were counted there in 1999. Despite being one of Scotland's seabird hotspots and a magnet for modern day tourists, since that time the number of these birds has crashed dramatically. The cause: the rapid spread of this giant, woody triffid. It can grow up to 3 metres in height, smothering the burrows of ground nesting birds, like the puffin, and stopping pairs from rearing chicks successfully.
It's believed that 17th century soldiers were the ones to have first introduced tree mallow to this area of Scotland. Returning from sea to a fortress sited on Bass Rock, they took advantage of the plant's large leaves, using them as poultices. The plant remained at a fairly low density on this island prior to the 1950s, while the cover over on Craigleith was less than 5% before 1960.
However, the mallow slowly began to gain a foothold. It has spread much more rapidly in recent years, assisted by mild winters, extremely fertile soils (thanks to the winged residents' poo), earth lain bare by burrowing puffins, and the absence of grazing rabbits. By 2006, as much as 90% of Bass Rock was covered by a dense jungle of the stuff. Over on Fidra, its succession was even more rapid.
After watching a short documentary about the project in the centre's Wildlife Theatre, I was inspired to get involved. A few emails later and I became the latest addition to the volunteer database, meaning I now have access to all the latest updates and details regarding future work parties. I'm planning to make a return to Edinburgh in August and join some of the summer trips that will be running from then, through to September.
Spending time out on one of the small, isolated islands with no more than a dozen others will be a unique experience; one that'll offer me an intimate glimpse into the lives of its colourful occupants. To find out more about SOS Puffin, discover how you can become a volunteer, or make a donation, visit the Scottish Seabird Centre's website.
I look forward to setting sail!
Craigleith and Fidra are located just off the coast of North Berwick, East Lothian, and neighbour the famous Bass Rock, and The Lamb. This archipelago plays host to a rich variety of seabirds and marine mammals, including the biggest grey seal colony ever to be recorded on the east coast of Britain!
But what makes mallow such a menace? Well, Craigleith was once home to one of the largest puffin colonies in Britain - over 28,000 pairs were counted there in 1999. Despite being one of Scotland's seabird hotspots and a magnet for modern day tourists, since that time the number of these birds has crashed dramatically. The cause: the rapid spread of this giant, woody triffid. It can grow up to 3 metres in height, smothering the burrows of ground nesting birds, like the puffin, and stopping pairs from rearing chicks successfully.
It's believed that 17th century soldiers were the ones to have first introduced tree mallow to this area of Scotland. Returning from sea to a fortress sited on Bass Rock, they took advantage of the plant's large leaves, using them as poultices. The plant remained at a fairly low density on this island prior to the 1950s, while the cover over on Craigleith was less than 5% before 1960.
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| A fabulous view of Bass Rock from the mainland |
However, the mallow slowly began to gain a foothold. It has spread much more rapidly in recent years, assisted by mild winters, extremely fertile soils (thanks to the winged residents' poo), earth lain bare by burrowing puffins, and the absence of grazing rabbits. By 2006, as much as 90% of Bass Rock was covered by a dense jungle of the stuff. Over on Fidra, its succession was even more rapid.After watching a short documentary about the project in the centre's Wildlife Theatre, I was inspired to get involved. A few emails later and I became the latest addition to the volunteer database, meaning I now have access to all the latest updates and details regarding future work parties. I'm planning to make a return to Edinburgh in August and join some of the summer trips that will be running from then, through to September.
I look forward to setting sail!
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