01 June, 2016
Celebrating seabirds on the May
A two-day seabird celebration will take place on the Isle of May on the 11 and 12 June, helping to mark the island’s 60th year as a national nature reserve.
Organised by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the event promises lots of close-up views of seabirds. There will be experts on hand to talk about the puffins and other birds which make the Isle of May so special. The Isle of May Bird Observatory will be hosting an exhibition and scientists from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology will explain how their research is improving knowledge about seabirds.
David Steel, SNH’s Isle of May reserve manager, said:
“This year we’re celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Isle of May as a national nature reserve. It is one of the best places in Scotland to see seabirds. These two open days will give you a chance to find out a bit more about these wonderful birds by talking to the experts who study them. You’ll be able to see birds close up through the telescopes and there’ll be a puffin ringing demonstration. There will be plenty of opportunities for taking pictures and entering our photo competition!”
Advance booking is essential. Information about the photography competition can be found on Scotland’s National Nature Reserve website - www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/isle-of-may
It’s free to visit the nature reserve, but you must take a boat trip to reach the island. Sailings are on the privately-run May Princess or Osprey of Anstruther from the Anstruther Harbour or through the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick.
- Anstruther - for tickets and details, see www.isleofmayferry.com (May Princess) or www.isleofmayboattrips.co.uk (RIB Osprey).
- North Berwick - For tickets and details, book online on the Scottish Seabird Centre website at www.seabird.org or call 01620 890 202.
Known locally as 'The May', this small island sits on the edge of the Firth of Forth. The island's importance for seabirds has drawn scientists to its shores for many years and the May is home to the oldest continuously running bird observatory in the UK. The May is also a regular haunt for grey seals, often seen lounging on the shoreline rocks. This island is a historical gem and it's been a place of pilgrimage for centuries with an early island monastery. The May was also the site of Scotland's very first lighthouse, built in 1636, while the current, castle-like lighthouse was designed by the engineer Robert Stevenson.
ENDS
The Isle of May is one of about 50 national nature reserves in Scotland. These are special places that look after some of the best of Scotland’s nature on behalf of everyone who lives or visits Scotland, and they provide unique opportunities to visit, enjoy and learn more about Scotland’s nature. For more information, see www.nnr-scotland.org.uk.
Contact information
- Name
- SNH Media
- snhmedia@snh.gov.uk
NatureScot is Scotland's nature agency. We work to enhance our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it. Our priority is a nature-rich future for Scotland and an effective response to the climate emergency. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nature_scot
’S e NatureScot buidheann nàdair na h-Alba. Bidh sinn a’ neartachadh àrainneachd na h-Alba agus a’ brosnachadh dhaoine gu barrachd suim a chur ann an nàdar. Tha e mar phrìomhachas againn gum bi nàdar na h-Alba beairteach agus gun dèilig sinn gu h-èifeachdach le èiginn na gnàth-shìde. Tha an tuilleadh fiosrachaidh aig www.nature.scot no air Twitter aig https://twitter.com/nature_scot
