MIGRATION MONITORING

Eagle Clarke first noted Fair Isle’s potential for migrant birds at the beginning of the Twentieth Century, and records were made anecdotally by several observers up until 1948, when Fair Isle Bird Observatory was established. Since then bird migration has been consistently monitored, with very little change in methods in nearly 60 years.

Census
A whole island census is carried out every day in the migration periods (end March – mid June & August – end October). This is carried out by the Warden, Assistant Warden and Seabird Monitoring Officer, who rotate the 3 census areas (north, south-east, south-west) on a daily basis. (SEE CENSUS MAP)

The census takes at least 3 hours to complete, depending on weather conditions and number of birds around. The person doing the census walks a set route, encompassing all of the favoured habitats of migrant birds in their section. Special attention is given to the patches of cover, stone dykes, ditches, gardens and cliffs. There are no secrets to finding birds on Fair Isle – common and rare migrants are found EVERYWHERE & ANYWHERE. Any migrant birds that are seen are recorded, and the results discussed at Bird Log in the evening.

Bird Log
Every evening at 9.30pm, the Warden calls out Bird Log. This is the official record of migrant birds, with the Warden recording all sightings in the Log book, whilst having the final say on the totals that have been reported, to minimise double counting. The majority of the reports come from the Warden, Assistant Warden and Seabird Monitoring Officer, due to their extensive coverage of the Isle. However, visitor’s contributions are welcome, if they have seen something different, or a higher number, or the same species in a different location. For reference, use the large map in the lounge if the place names used are not on the welcome pack maps.

What Species?
Many visitors may be confused by the species included or omitted from the Log call.

At the start and end of the season, all migrant birds are counted. This includes Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Snipe, Wheatear, Raven etc. Many of the birds will remain and breed, however many will be migrants heading further north, and so have always been counted. However, once the breeding season begins, many birds become established and the number of migrants coming and going is reduced. At this point the Warden decides whether these individual species are recorded at all, or only as obvious migrants.

NO RESIDENT SEABIRDS ARE RECORDED. They are individually counted as a species every few years. This includes:

EIDER, SHAG, GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL, FULMAR

With other breeding seabirds, only the first arrivals and last departures are recorded. This includes all AUKS and SKUAS.