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| Fundraising drive aims to save seabird paradise off Scotland Fundraising drive aims to save seabird paradise off Scotland | |
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| A fundraising appeal to help preserve St Kilda, the acclaimed world heritage site off the west coast of Scotland, has begun after research showed catastrophic crashes in seabird numbers linked to climate change. | A fundraising appeal to help preserve St Kilda, the acclaimed world heritage site off the west coast of Scotland, has begun after research showed catastrophic crashes in seabird numbers linked to climate change. |
| The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) is asking for donations to help fund the £270,000-a-year costs of conserving the once-populated archipelago, which sits in the Atlantic 41 miles west of the Outer Hebrides. | The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) is asking for donations to help fund the £270,000-a-year costs of conserving the once-populated archipelago, which sits in the Atlantic 41 miles west of the Outer Hebrides. |
| The trust, which last week celebrated the 30th anniversary of St Kilda’s designation as a world heritage site because of its globally significant seabird populations and natural heritage, estimates numbers of four seabird species there have plunged by between 50% and 90% since 1999. | The trust, which last week celebrated the 30th anniversary of St Kilda’s designation as a world heritage site because of its globally significant seabird populations and natural heritage, estimates numbers of four seabird species there have plunged by between 50% and 90% since 1999. |
| That includes a 56% decline in fulmars, down to 27,000 occupied sites; the loss of more than half the common guillemots found in 1999, with only 8,206 counted last year; and a 68% fall in the number of razorbills to 718 individuals. | That includes a 56% decline in fulmars, down to 27,000 occupied sites; the loss of more than half the common guillemots found in 1999, with only 8,206 counted last year; and a 68% fall in the number of razorbills to 718 individuals. |
| The latest data confirms figures disclosed by the Guardian in December, when the NTS said that only one kittiwake chick was born there last season. Since 1999, the number of kittiwakes has fallen by 89%, suggesting they are on the brink of local extinction. | The latest data confirms figures disclosed by the Guardian in December, when the NTS said that only one kittiwake chick was born there last season. Since 1999, the number of kittiwakes has fallen by 89%, suggesting they are on the brink of local extinction. |
| Conservationists believe that warming seas have caused a sharp fall in the availability of sandeels, one of the birds’ main food sources, while pushing other marine foods deeper into the water or further north. They also suspect fulmar numbers have suffered after reforms to the common fisheries policy led to the outlawing of fish discards by passing trawlers. | Conservationists believe that warming seas have caused a sharp fall in the availability of sandeels, one of the birds’ main food sources, while pushing other marine foods deeper into the water or further north. They also suspect fulmar numbers have suffered after reforms to the common fisheries policy led to the outlawing of fish discards by passing trawlers. |
| Around 600,000 seabirds, including puffins, manx shearwaters and gannets, nest each year on St Kilda’s seven islands, which are famous for their steep, gale-battered sea cliffs, sea stacks and exposed peaks. The appeal is to help fund NTS monitoring work: the trust believes the fate of birds there will be a significant bellwether for the impacts of climate change. | Around 600,000 seabirds, including puffins, manx shearwaters and gannets, nest each year on St Kilda’s seven islands, which are famous for their steep, gale-battered sea cliffs, sea stacks and exposed peaks. The appeal is to help fund NTS monitoring work: the trust believes the fate of birds there will be a significant bellwether for the impacts of climate change. |
| Hirta, the main island, was also home for centuries to a community of St Kildan islanders, who were evacuated to the UK mainland in 1930 after growing weary of their isolation, population decline and poverty. | Hirta, the main island, was also home for centuries to a community of St Kildan islanders, who were evacuated to the UK mainland in 1930 after growing weary of their isolation, population decline and poverty. |
| The last surviving St Kildan, Rachel Johnson, died earlier this year aged 93. She was eight when the last 39 islanders were evacuated. | The last surviving St Kildan, Rachel Johnson, died earlier this year aged 93. She was eight when the last 39 islanders were evacuated. |
| The NTS, which has gone through substantial recent cost-savings and some property sales to revive its finances, said it also needed donations to help with the continual conservation and repairs to the islanders’ homes in Village Bay, their church, the factor’s house and 1,400 “cliets”, conical stone structures used to keep seabirds and stores, as well as the miles of animal enclosures. | The NTS, which has gone through substantial recent cost-savings and some property sales to revive its finances, said it also needed donations to help with the continual conservation and repairs to the islanders’ homes in Village Bay, their church, the factor’s house and 1,400 “cliets”, conical stone structures used to keep seabirds and stores, as well as the miles of animal enclosures. |
| St Kilda is the UK’s first and only double world heritage site, and one of only 32 worldwide, after its designation was extended in 2005 to include that cultural heritage. | St Kilda is the UK’s first and only double world heritage site, and one of only 32 worldwide, after its designation was extended in 2005 to include that cultural heritage. |
| Its extreme isolation means other unique species have survived there, including the St Kilda wren, the St Kilda mouse and Pankhurst’s dandelion, as well as the Soay sheep, a type of domesticated sheep from the Neolithic period. | Its extreme isolation means other unique species have survived there, including the St Kilda wren, the St Kilda mouse and Pankhurst’s dandelion, as well as the Soay sheep, a type of domesticated sheep from the Neolithic period. |
| In 2004, its natural heritage designation was extended to include the surrounding seabed and subsurface marine life. Marine biologists discovered in the 1990s that the submerged rocks and seamounts, which were remnants of the same volcano that makes up the islands above the surface, were home to thriving sealife. | In 2004, its natural heritage designation was extended to include the surrounding seabed and subsurface marine life. Marine biologists discovered in the 1990s that the submerged rocks and seamounts, which were remnants of the same volcano that makes up the islands above the surface, were home to thriving sealife. |
| Sir Moir Lockhead, the trust’s chairman, said: “Anyone who cares about our seabirds and the wider health of our oceans will appreciate the work we carry out here year on year at St Kilda. Our seabird survey from St Kilda is providing us with vital information that appears to shows major impacts on sea conditions and the species that depend on the marine environment.” | Sir Moir Lockhead, the trust’s chairman, said: “Anyone who cares about our seabirds and the wider health of our oceans will appreciate the work we carry out here year on year at St Kilda. Our seabird survey from St Kilda is providing us with vital information that appears to shows major impacts on sea conditions and the species that depend on the marine environment.” |