 |
 |
SPRING
2007
A
BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF TROUP HEAD!
We
are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with
the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to introduce
a new display in the aquarium. The RSPB
recently purchased Troup Head, 15 miles along the coast from
the aquarium. Troup Head is home
to Scotland's only mainland gannet colony and supports thousands
of other nesting seabirds such as puffins, razorbills and
guillemots. The cliffs there are sheer and around 50m high
and not easily accessible to everyone.
The
RSPB have installed a camera on
the clifftop at Troup Head which beams back live pictures
directly to a video monitor at the aquarium, bringing the
wonders of this seabird city straight to us here. Visitors
to the aquarium are able to watch live footage of the birds
and we look forward to following the progress of nesting
gannets over the course of the season. Aquarium guides give
regular presentations at the video monitor - we're all swotting
up on our seabird facts! |
Joanna
McFarlane, the RSPB's community officer at Troup Head, says,
"We are really pleased to be working with Macduff Marine
Aquarium and to share this fantastic place with so many people
who might otherwise not be able to experience it - is an opportunity
not to be missed! The RSPB is keen to make stronger links
with the community in this area and we hope that this amazing
seabird colony will inspire all who see it to help us safeguard
our marine wildlife for the future". |
Photo:
Charlie Phillips |
|
The
camera is powered by solar and wind generated energy. There
have been a few teething problems with the technology - the
pictures are beamed a distance of over 14km - but these will
be ironed out soon. It's a brilliant project and we are
thrilled to be able to feature local seabirds at the aquarium
in such an exciting way.
.......................................................................................................
|
| |
AUTUMN
2007
GANNETS
GALORE
One of
the highlights of this summer has been watching the gannets
and other sea birds on the cliffs at Troup Head via the live
camera link set up in April by the RSPB. We have followed
with great interest the progress of a gannet couple as they
hatched their egg in June then worked tirelessly over the
following months to catch fish and regurgitate their food
for their ever-hungry chick. The chick was a massive handful
for the parents – at first it was fluffy and white and happy
to sit under a protective mum or dad, but as it grew bigger,
the parents were gradually squeezed to the edge of the nest
– nearer to the snapping beaks of impatient neighbours! |
Watching
gannet chicks on the live camera link...
|
| |
The
gannet chicks grew to full size and became dark brown in colour
by the beginning of September. When they were ready to leave
the nest, they took a leap of faith from the cliff-top onto
the water and then paddled out to sea. They will spend their
first few weeks in the big blue paddling on the sea surface
until their wings are stronger and they are able fly – then
they head to warmer skies off West Africa with the adult birds.
It's
been absolutely fascinating watching the chicks develop and
we hope they survive their first year – the most perilous
year for them – as only 1/3 of young gannets make it through.
The camera has been taken down for the winter now but will
be re-installed in time to watch the action all over again
next spring.
Back
to News & Events
|
