By Harry Britton, Project Officer, Shetland

In Shetland, one of our target species is Twite (called Lintie here). Linties are small, brown finches, closely related to the linnet, but with a longer tail and stubbier bill. Lintie numbers are in decline across the UK and, while Shetland remains a stronghold for the small bird, populations are suffering here too. In Shetland, this decline is predominantly due to changes in land use that has reduced the diversity of arable crops. Linties are seed eating birds so the reduction of crop diversity across Shetland, replaced with a monotone picture of silage fields and sheep, has reduced their food source massively. Through Species on the Edge, local landowners and crofters are taking action to turn around the fortunes on Shetland’s Linties.
The Species on the Edge Shetland team, Harry, Gareth and Nathalie, are working with landowners to plant a speciality bird seed mix which we have designed. This mix produces bright and colourful flowers in the summer, supporting Shetland’s pollinators, including the very rare Shetland bumblebee, and in the winter will provide a vital food source for wintering birds, including Linties. Together we have sowed this seed mix at over twenty-six sites across the islands from Fair Isle, to Unst, and, in 2025, this will be extended to Papa Stour and the Out Skerries. We have already seen flocks of over two hundred Linties at some of the sites, so we are encouraging as many people as possible across Shetland with land of whatever size to sow this mix.


Grow a Twite Seed Crop
If you manage land in Shetland – a large garden, a croft or a farm – you may have suitable ground to cultivate a seed crop to provide a food source for Twite next winter.
Crop management plans should be made between January and April. The ground is then prepared in May and the crop sown before 15th June.
For more information, contact Project Officer Harry (harry.britton@rspb.org.uk). A member of staff can visit and advise you and support your project.