Sanday
Communities
Many important wildlife sites in the North Isles are designated for their conservation value on a local, national, European, or global level. These include Special Protection Areas and Special Areas for Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Conservation Sites.
Outside of these protected areas there are many other locations possessing considerable natural heritage value or potential. The aim of this project was to work with local landowners to identify parcels of land where work could be undertaken to benefit wildife.
Creating wetlands for wading birds
A priority was enhnacing farmland habitats to support existing populations of wading birds, by enhancing suitable breeding habitat. Wading birds benefit from a varied vegetation structure– longer vegetation to provide cover for nests and chicks, shorter more open areas and damp or wet places to allow chicks freedom of movement and for foraging. The creation of new sites would connect bird populations by providing steppingstones between existing areas of good habitat.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds managed the project, identifying locations where works may be possible and liaising with landowners to find mutually beneficial ways of working.
RSPB Conservation advisor, Tom Wells worked with landowners across 7 of the North Isles, undertaking wetland enhancement and restoration work on over 20 sites to benefit Curlew, Lapwing and other wading birds.
The practical work included the digging of pools and scrapes alongside other groundworks to create wetland landscapes and ideal conditions for breeding birds.
Fencing off sites facilitated the introduction of cattle for conservation grazing. This benefits breeding birds by creating the varied vegetation structure needed for nesting and by chicks at different stages of their growth and enhances floral diversity. It is also beneficial to the farmer by providing additional grazing opportunities.
Positive outcomes
At a number of sites, baseline surveys for eight species of breeding birds were undertaken (Curlew, Dunlin, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, Snipe, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher). Surveys carried out in the season/s after the enhancement work had already yielded some very positive signs.
Across all NILPs sites two of the main target species, Curlew and Lapwing showed the numbers of breeding pairs recorded had increased by 159% and 313% respectively.
Seeds of the Isles
The NILPS ‘Seeds of the Isles’ project was designed to encourage the planting of species that are native to Orkney and where possible, to use locally sourced seed to ensure that the genetic diversity of Orkney’s wildflowers is also conserved. Seven Seeds of the Isles introductory sessions were delivered, all about Orkney’s native wildflowers and growing plug plants from collected seed.
