Isle of Eigg
Whilst rare, orcas are occasionally spotted swimming past the island.
HEN HARRIER
Best time to see: March - August One of the most intensively persecuted species of birds of prey in Britain, hen harriers first bred on Eigg in 2003. Although best known for predating on free-ranging fowl (hence its common name), the island’s breeding birds can often been seen hunting field voles.
GOLDEN EAGLE
Best time to see: Year round Two pairs of golden eagles are resident on the island, with at least one pair breeding most years. Breeding success over the last 25 years has averaged 1.4 chicks reared per annum and is considerably influenced by the number of rabbits present, their primary food source.
bracken and beach-clearing. She says the buy-out makes a big difference: “There is more goodwill. It’s not as if they’re volunteering to help a private owner: they’re doing it for an ideal that they can buy into themselves.”
The population has grown since 1997 by 40% to almost 100 people, and the environment is a major driving force. In turn, a substantial population of motivated people is good for the environment, says John Chester, now retiring after 29 years as ranger. At a craft sale in the community hall, over cakes made by local children – “Hi John the Bird!” they call – he points out that, despite its wild beauty, Eigg is a managed landscape: people, money and enthusiasm are needed to manage it. Before the buy-out, land management was poor and grazing had a big impact: “There was hardly a stock-proof fence on the island so sheep and cattle grazed
28 SCOTTISH WILDLIFE NOVEMBER 2015
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE
Best time to see: Sporadically year round. Extinct on Eigg for over 80 years, white-tailed eagles returned to the island after a reintroduction programme on neighbouring Rum in the 1970s. Now a regular visitor, this species is most frequently observed in the NW and SE corners of the island.
wherever they wanted,” he says. Badly-trampled coastal slopes became “basically just mudslides”.
“By fencing and excluding animals they have returned to botanically rich woodland. It’s mostly hazel scrub but there are also carpets of bluebells, primrose and wild garlic, and later in the year other plants such as enchanted nightshade.”
Prior to 1997, Chester had to get specific permission to clear invasive rhododendrons from the Manse Wood. “We had to jump through all sorts of hoops just to get that,” he says. “Since the buy-out, other areas above the Lodge have been cleared. Because of community ownership, we can do a lot more – we see rhododendrons, make a plan, then tackle it. Control and the ability to do something is the biggest single change. Without that nothing else could have changed.” He adds: “The community suggested
LONG-EARED OWL
Best time to see: February-July Three to five pairs of this medium-sized owl nest most years on the island. Field voles form the bulk of their diet, but other prey is known to include woodmice, brown rats and dor beetles.
that the Scottish Wildlife Trust should become partners because they wanted a strong conservation element. At the very lowest level people realised that tourism here relies on the wildlife – they don’t come here for the sunshine!” Mark Foxwell says the key to the Trust’s role is influencing and persuading, enabling people for instance to access grants for better land management: “It’s no good telling people what to do anyway.” The next phase for Mark Foxwell, Maggie Fyffe, and John Chester’s successor is a forest management plan, with twin goals of conservation and providing timber and fuel to help make the island carbon-neutral. On Eigg, helping people achieve their goals is good for the wildlife, and the last 20 years has clearly shown that what’s good for the wildlife is good for the people too.
© Arthur Campbell,
www.arisaig.co.uk.jpg
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