A lamentable ignorance of Ornithology is the general rule
on the Island. Guillemots, Razorbills, and, on occasion,
even Puffins, are referred to indiscriminately as "murres,"
the first named being sometimes distinguished as " Longbills." (Loyd 1922)
Introduction
In 1939, Richard Perry travelled to Lundy to study seabirds. His work, along with the work of
Ronald Lockley, initiated a new era of seabird research (Gaston and Jones 1997). Although some of his conclusions have been
challenged, Perry's observations of Lundy's auks and Kittiwakes remain a useful baseline for current studies. As the 75th anniversary of Perry's research
approaches it is perhaps a good time to return to his work and to the work of other researchers who have been drawn to the Isle of Puffins.
A brief history of seabird research since Perry
1940s
Ronald Lockley criticised Perry's counts of breeding seabirds. In particular, Lockley questioned whether there were 1000 pairs of
Manx Shearwaters breeding on Lundy. Alexander, W.B., Southern, H.N. Tucker, B.W. & Watson, J.S. try to answer this question
during a short visit to Lundy.
With the formation of the Lundy Field Society, Lundy became a Bird Observatory. Annual ringing of seabirds.
1950s
Barbara Snow (nee Whitaker) was the first to study the breeding behaviour of European Shags in any
detail. This research lead to major papers in Ibis and British Birds.
Hugh Boyd analysed the results of the first 10 years of seabird ringing.
1960s
Jeremy Greenwood studied first flighting in Common Guillemots and Razorbills.
He followed this research with work on Handa, Sutherland. A paper combining the results of these two
studies was published in Ibis.
Although hampered by the lack of a resident warden, Lundy Field Society volunteers
(including Bob Britton) complete a seabird census for Operation Seafarer.
1970s
Tony Taylor studied the interactions between Common Guillemots and the larger gulls.
Lundy loses its status as a Bird Observatory.
1980s
Martin Davies started long-term census work by establishing seven study plots. His work was continued by
Neil Willcox and David Price. This study has evolved into an on-going 4-yearly census of
the whole island organised by David Price and Helen Booker.
Dr Denver Daniels studied behaviour and communication in the Black-legged Kittiwake. The University of
Exeter begins annual field trips to study Animal Behaviour.
Tim Birkhead and Ben Hatchwell conducted two small projects on Lundy to complement their
long-term studies of Common Guillemots on Skomer.
Tony Taylor starts ringing studies of Manx Shearwaters.
Richard Campey starts a survey of Atlantic Puffin numbers.
1990s
With the continuing decline in Atlantic Puffin numbers, the question of Rats and Seabirds becomes prominent. Animal Behaviour
studies and census work continues. Sea Empress disaster affects Guillemot numbers.
2000s
Current studies focus on the Seabird recovery project, a joint venture of Natural England, RSPB, National
Trust and Landmark Trust. Atlantic Puffin and Manx Shearwater studies are increased.
David Price and Helen Booker conducted a taped-call response survey of 7000
potential Manx Shearwater burrows in 2001.
Poor breeding performance of seabirds in the North Sea leads to increased monitoring of Common Guillemots and
Black-legged Kittiwakes on Lundy.
2010s
European Storm Petrel First chick ringed 5th Oct 2014
Current seabird research
Seabird Recovery Project: Lundy
The Seabird Recovery Project, a partnership between Natural England, the RSPB, the Landmark Trust and the National Trust began in 2001 and aimed to increase
Manx Shearwater numbers on the Lundy to provide an insurance policy for the species as a whole. In 2005, the first
Atlantic Puffin chick was seen since 1972, and there has been a slow increase in breeding pairs (6 pairs in 2008). There has been
a three fold increase in occupied Manx Shearwater burrows, and successful breeding has been recorded in every year since 2004.
Autumn attendance of Common Guillemots on Lundy in 2008
Common Guillemots disperse to sea after breeding where they become flightless during their pre-basic moult. Breeding birds at the south of their European
range make brief visits to their breeding ledges from October onwards. On Lundy, the earliest sighting of Guillemots on breeding ledges was of 40 birds on
the 7th Nov 1994. This study, which is concentrating on 7 sub-colonies between Needle Rock and St Mark's Stone, has found 70 Guillemots on 27th October and
regular counts of over 400 birds from 12th November.
Geography of Lundy
Lundy's cliffs have many names, named by the different groups of people that
have worked and played on the island over the years. Aztec Bay appears in
Michael Williams' " The Lundy Companion" as "a small bay on the West Side
between St. Mark's Stone and St. Philip's Stone". To the climbers that visit after
seabirds have left, the same bay is formed by St. Mark's Stone, the Parthenos,
Grand Falls Zawn, Double Headed Zawn (formerly Langham's Cavity), and
Beaufort Buttress.
Recent publications
- Booker, H., Price, D. & Taylor, A.M. (2008) "Manx Shearwater breeding success on Lundy 2007" Journal of the Lundy Field Society 1:47-56
[notes]
- Dalrymple, S. (2008) "Cliff nesting sea bird productivity on Lundy 2007" Journal of the Lundy Field Society 1:41-46
[notes]
- Saunders, N. & Wheatley, S. (2008b) "Puffin numbers on Lundy during Summer 2007" Journal of the Lundy Field Society 1:57-64
[notes]
- More articles on Lundy's seabirds
Species Eleven species of seabird are known to breed on Lundy:
In addition, the
Northern Gannet bred successfully until the North Lighthouse was built in the 1890s. The
Great Cormorant used to breed in small numbers.
Other Species
Ringing studies on Lundy were started by the Lundy Field Society in 1947 when (amongst others) 20 Manx Shearwaters and 12 juvenile Shags were ringed.
Individual Seabirds on Lundy
Journals
Lundy Wardens
If you are interested in doing research on Lundy, or have any questions about seabird research on the island, please contact the
Warden.
This list is taken from Davis & Jones (
2007) "The Birds of Lundy"
Lundy Seabird Researchers
Booker, H.,
Britton, R.W.,
Daniels, D.,
Davies, M.,
Davis, T.,
Dean, B.,
Dickens, T.E.,
Fayet, A.,
Freeman, R.,
Greenwood, J.J.D.,
Guilford, T.C.,
Jones, T.,
Kirk, H.,
Maurice, L.,
Perrins, C.M.,
Perry, R.,
Price, D.,
Rowland, A.,
Shoji, A.,
Slader, P.,
Spencer, R.,
Taylor, A.M.,
Cole, L.,
Reach, I.,
Hatchwell, B.J.,
Birkhead, T.R.,
Goodburn, S.F.,
Perrins, J.M.,
Jones, S.E.,
Woodruff, H.,
...
Organisations Lundy is owned by the National Trust and run by the Landmark Trust.
External Links