Chough on Islay even more protected
Monday, April 02 2007
The Scottish Executive announced today that Islay will get a new Special Protection Area (SPA) on the Oa peninsula for the Chough. Earlier another SPA was realised in the Loch Gruinart area in 2006. And before that the Rinns of Islay were designated as Special Protection Area for the Chough. The Chough is a rare bird and Islay is a stronghold for these interesting animals.
The future of one of Scotland's rarest bird species, the Chough, is to be further safeguarded through the creation of a new Special Protection Area (SPA) on The Oa peninsula on Islay. Following a consultation process undertaken by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Deputy Environment Minister Sarah Boyack today announced that the site has been awarded Special Protection Area status under the EC Wild Birds Directive. The new SPA supports 2% of the UK breeding population of the species.
Angus Laing, SNH Area Manager said:
"Chough, with their distinctive red legs and red beaks are only found in a few areas of Scotland, with Islay as the stronghold. On The Oa they breed in caves along the cliffs and feed on the coastal and arable grasslands. Visitors to the area often see families of chough searching for insects found in the shallow soil and in cow dung. They favour these areas because the low intensity, traditional way of farming means that there is plenty of food for them."
The area which will be designated as SPA on the Oa will stretch from the coast at Kintra to Ineraval in the south-east. The total area of the SPA is 1931.31ha. When an are receives the status of SPA strict guidelines come into effect in accordance with the EC directive on the conservation of wild birds. On our last trip with Islay Birding we managed to spot a Chough just south of the Rinns which, according to Jeremy, was most likely nesting in the cliffs behind us.
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