RSPB buys Bass Rock after 300 years in private hands
Summary
The conservation group RSPB Scotland has bought Bass Rock and nearby Craigleith Island after over 300 years of private ownership. These islands are important homes for large seabird colonies, including northern gannets and puffins, and the purchase aims to protect the birds facing threats like disease, climate change, and human activity.Key Facts
- Bass Rock is located three miles off North Berwick in Scotland and has been owned by the Hamilton-Dalrymple family for 320 years.
- The rock hosts Europe’s largest colony of northern gannets, about 100,000 birds after a recent decline due to bird flu.
- Craigleith Island nearby is home to about 10,000 puffins.
- The purchase was helped by a £586,000 grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
- Bass Rock is 350 feet high, uninhabited, and famous for its white color caused by bird droppings called guano.
- The island has been a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for nearly 75 years.
- RSPB Scotland will work with the Scottish Seabird Centre to create plans to help seabird recovery amid threats like disease, climate change, pollution, wind turbines, and overfishing.
- The sale price was reportedly below market value, and conservation efforts come as seabird numbers continue to face significant decline.
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