People have been reminded to carefully follow paths on Lihou island to protect endangered species.
Red-listed herring gulls, and amber-listed lesser and greater black-backed gulls, nest there, amongst other declining species.
La Societe Guernesiaise conservation officer Jamie Hooper said: ‘Perhaps five to 10 pairs of oystercatchers breed on Lihou.
‘In more isolated locations, especially Lihoumel, are shag and cormorant nests. Shag is red-listed, having declined rapidly in the last 20 years.
‘Important songbirds are few and far between. Sometimes stonechats breed, as well as common species.’
Nesting territory was chosen before lockdown, so numbers are relatively the same.
‘However, they have chosen locations very close to paths. Numbers fluctuate each year but I estimate 200 pairs of herring gull, 10-20 pairs of lesser black-backed gulls, 50 pairs of greater black-backed gulls, 15 pairs of shag and 15 pairs of cormorant.
‘Parts are roped off every year to prevent people wandering into important areas.
‘Sadly, not everyone respects the ropes. This leads to disturbance and damage of nests, eggs and chicks.’
Exceptional spring weather meant a less-interrupted migration for most species.
‘Birds did not have to stop off to wait for good weather.
‘However, prolonged north-easterly winds led white-tailed eagles into the region. One individual was seen at the Colin Best Nature Reserve briefly by Tony Loaring in late March.
‘It was found again the next day and paid a visit to Alderney. This was the first local record since 1939.’
Marine traffic has greatly reduced across the Bailiwick.
‘We haven’t been able to monitor Herm’s seabirds. They will have undoubtedly benefited from reduced disturbance. Some of their feeding grounds are also fishing hotspots for humans.
‘Weather, food availability and climate change are huge issues which affect wild birds.
‘Reducing human disturbance is perhaps the easiest to tackle. Covid-19 forced us out of the equation, albeit temporarily.’
Herm Island reservations manager Jos Knight said: ‘There are certainly plenty of puffins around this year.
‘I heard a cuckoo the other day – first time in 20 years. And there is an incredible marsh harrier that is always around the woodland area at Belvoir.’
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