Highs and lows at Shetland National Nature Reserves this year

At Noss NNR the breeding population of great skuas, or bonxies, fell by 78% as avian flu devastated the colony, while breeding numbers of gannets dropped by 16.7%. Both species also suffered badly at Hermaness NNR. 

Against all odds, however, the bonxies that did not succumb to the virus at Noss managed to fledge chicks and breeding success for the species was better than in some other years in the reserve’s history, including 2017 when no chicks fledged at all. 

Meanwhile kittiwakes had one of their best seasons in recent years, with breeding attempts up by 58% from last year. Many kittiwake chicks were seen to fledge their nests and breeding success was up from 0.5 to 0.9 chicks fledged per pair.

Bonxies are known for preying on kittiwakes, as well as stealing their food, and the reduction in bonxie numbers possibly contributed to the successful breeding season at Noss.

Another species that bonxies are known for stealing food from is the Arctic tern, which also had an exceptional breeding season, again possibly in response to the reduction in bonxie numbers.

Other species appeared to evade the virus, including shags, guillemots, razorbills, puffins and fulmars, with numbers and breeding success of these species either on par with last year, or slightly improved. 

One guillemot within a monitoring plot at Noss was discovered with a leg ring which revealed the bird to be an incredible 31-years-old, having been ringed as a chick on the Isle of Canna in 1991.

Interesting migrating birds spotted on the reserve this year included a rustic bunting and greenish warbler. However, the bird of the year was the first record on Shetland - and only the second in Scotland - of a Pacific swift, which was spotted hawking for insects at the Noup, the highest point on the island. The Noup of Noss is renowned for attracting rare swifts, with an Alpine swift spotted in 1994 and a white-throated needletail in 1991.

Meanwhile at Hermaness, a record number of people visited the reserve in 2022, exceeding the 10,000 mark for the first time.

Staff were delighted to open the new boardwalk and information hub, greatly enhancing the visitor experience at the most northerly NNR in Britain. Nearly 2km of recycled plastic boardwalk was installed, which opens up a circular route known as The Muckle Flugga Trail through the centre of the reserve, while protecting fragile peatland and avoiding disturbing sensitive nesting birds. A new visitor shelter, with seasonal toilets and year-round information, has been built at the car park, and signs installed along the trails.

The project was only made possible through a partnership of NatureScot, VisitScotland and Shetland Islands Council, with funding from the Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund and Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

Juan Brown, NatureScot Operations Officer in Shetland, said: “This year has undoubtedly been one of the most difficult for our nature reserves on Shetland. Seeing the devastating impact of avian flu as it swept through the bonxie and gannet colonies in the summer was heartbreaking, and we were saddened to have to take the necessary step of closing Noss and restricting access at Hermaness to try and help prevent the spread. 

“Given that 60% of the world’s population of great skua nests in Scotland, the majority in the Northern Isles, this is very concerning. As we head into 2023, Scotland’s avian flu task force, led by NatureScot, is continuing to work flat out to gain a better understanding of the virus and take the necessary action on the ground to protect our wild birds.

“Thankfully there were some glimmers of hope on the reserves in 2022, as other species seemed to avoid the worst of the outbreak and went on to have successful breeding seasons, and visitors enjoyed huge improvements to facilities. And there have been some fantastic discoveries, including one of the oldest guillemots we’ve recorded here.”

NatureScot Chief Executive Francesca Osowska said: “This year has been a challenging one for nature in Scotland, as we saw an unprecedented avian flu outbreak that took a devastating toll on our wild birds, with NatureScot leading the national response to the crisis.

“As we look back on 2022, it’s heartening to hear some more hopeful stories from our National Nature Reserves and reflect on the great work staff are doing on the ground for nature and people.

“With new global targets for nature just agreed this week at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15), we head into 2023 with stronger than ever resolve to lead the bold action needed to protect, restore and value nature, and tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.”

ENDS