The Bird Observatory is located on the Island for one primary reason, the island's importance for birds. In the spring and summer the island is one of the largest breeding seabird colonies in Scotland and is particularly important for Puffins with over 40,000 occupied burrows. Other breeding seabirds are typical of the area but all are found in important numbers including Shag, Eider, Guillemot, Kittiwake, Razorbill, Arctic, Common and Sandwich Tern, Herring, Lesser and Great Black-backed Gulls.

 

In spring and autumn, the island is an ideal site to monitor migrant passerines and when conditions are right in winds from NE round to SSE can receive large "falls" of migrants originating in Scandinavia and eastern Europe, occasionally with scarce or rare species amongst them. To find out more about recent bird sightings from the island visit the news pages.

 

Bird ringing on the island has a long history and is one of the main functions of the Bird Obs. It is operated under the auspices of the British Trust for Ornithology Ringing Scheme (click here for more info on ringing). There are 5 heligoland traps set in sheltered gardens with specially planted cover to attract and support migrant birds. Ringers also use mist nets to catch migrants and there are also many long term ringing studies of the breeding seabirds.

 

More information on the birds of the Isle of May will be posted here soon including a downloadable checklist and information about breeding seabirds