Canna Seabird Studies (2004–2015) 2016

Abstract

The Seabird Monitoring Programme has established a UK and Ireland-wide network of colonies in which seabird numbers and breeding success are monitored regularly. Additional parameters, such as survival, phenology and chick diet, are more time consuming to measure but provide important information on the state of seabird populations and the health of the wider marine environment. In order to collect this important, yet time-consuming data, four 'Key Site' colonies were targeted for more detailed monitoring of breeding performance, annual survival rates and feeding ecology:

Skomer Island (Wales);
Isle of May (eastern Scotland);
Isle of Canna (western Scotland); and
Fair Isle (northern Scotland).

These sites are geographically spread in order to give as full coverage as possible of British waters. Annual reports for each site are produced, which document the findings of the year’s seabird breeding season.

Provided here are the annual reports produced between 2004 and 2015 for the isle of Canna. The Island of Canna (and adjoining Sanday) is located off the west coast of Scotland in the Inner Hebrides. Canna is owned and managed by The National Trust for Scotland and was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1987 for the island’s biological and geological features. Following this, Canna was also designated as a Special Protected Area in 1997 for the internationally important concentrations of breeding seabird species. Shags, black-legged kittewakes, puffins, razorbills, common and black guillemots, and fulmars all breed on the island and historically Manx shearwaters were also recorded.