The Species on the Edge Shetland team has been busy since their last update in Autumn 2024 – let’s have a look at what’s been happening.
The Sandness Nature Connection Project
The first part of the Sandness Nature Connection Project, in partnership with Sandness Community Development, has now come to an end. Through these initial sessions, the community has selected several areas they would like to delve further into: bees, birds, wildflowers, and even the smaller things like lichens and mosses. This has fuelled our Sandness Nature ID sessions which kicked off at the end of April and will continue through May.
Talks with the Royal Voluntary Society
In the central mainland, Species on the Edge has been giving a series of talks with the Royal Voluntary Society from Hamnavoe in Burra, to Lerwick, and next month, Cunningsburgh. It has been fun to delve more deeply into the lives of waders and bees with groups across the island. One group, the Lerwick Gardening Group, were particularly interested in what they could be doing for pollinators in their gardens. Having enjoyed looking through the results of last year’s Lerwick Gardening Competition with the Lerwick Community Council, the group were keen to get an insight from the judges and hear about what they could be doing differently in their gardens; Species on the Edge was happy to oblige!
Schools get hands-on for their local species on the edge
It’s not only the community groups who have been keen to learn about waders and bumblebees; Sandness Primary, Brae Primary, and Baltasound Primary School all had a fantastic time delving into the world of feathers and exoskeletons as Species on the Edge led workshops exploring everything birds and bees. Baltasound Primary have one species they are exploring that lives just round the corner from them: the Plantain Leaf Beetle! In the coming months they will be delving a peerie bit deeper and heading out to the Keen of Hamar in search of this elusive insect.
Sandness and Aith are focussing on one feathered friend in particular, the Twite. Both schools have prepped the ground and are ready for their first twite crop as part of the Crops for Linties and Pollinators project. This will be a fantastic opportunity for them to explore bees more closely in the summer and hear the rush of wings as the twite flock in the winter.
Waders also need a little bit of help before the survey season begins, and Anderson High School were on hand to help with creating the ideal habitat for these ground nesting birds. Over 100 pupils came down from Lerwick at the end of winter to cut rank grass and remove it from areas of wetland around Spiggie Loch. It was a fantastic few days of fun, with the pupils also learning about the birds around the loch and the habitat they need for feeding and nesting.
Habitat management with volunteers
A group of volunteers have been getting stuck in with some habitat management; a few eager hands helped cut the grass at Spiggie and some headed to Fetlar to prep the ground for a Twite crop around the RSPB accommodation. It was a fantastic day out, with a little fieldtrip afterwards to Funzie to see what may already be using the ponds as breeding season begins!
Crofting for biodiversity
We’ve been delighted with how many crofters and landowners have been getting in touch, keen to learn more about how they can be using their land to benefit biodiversity, while continuing to serve their own needs. And we’ve been happy to help! In January, two local crofters, Donna Smith and Laura Sinclair, told us in an online talk about how they’ve been working with Species on the Edge staff to grow ‘Bumblebird crops’ on their crofts to support wintering Twite, pollinators and a wealth of other biodiversity. If you missed the live talk, you can catch it now on YouTube.
We’ve also been delivering a series of events at local crofts, demonstrating how people can be supporting biodiversity on their land. If you’re keen to learn more about supporting nature on your land, get in touch with our Shetland Project Officer, Harry: harry.brtton@rspb.org.uk
Species recording
Plantain leaf beetle
Towards the end of March, the Shetland team headed to Orkney to join our Orkney and North Coast officers and some Species on the Edge volunteers for a Plantain Leaf beetle training day led by Buglife Development Manager and beetle enthusiast, Suzanne burgess.
The day started with an indoor training session, learning how to ID the beetle, followed by a site visit at Yesnaby and… success! The group found many of the beetles out and about in the sunshine. This was a fantastic opportunity to test the newly developed Plantain Leaf beetle survey protocol, practice how to do a transect and of course see these beautiful little beetles in real life. The beetle hasn’t been spotted in Shetland yet this year but we’re looking! If you find one of these beetles, please let us know! Email harry.britton@rspb.org.uk.
Twite
We issued an appeal for the people of Shetland, Orkney and the North Coast of Scotland to let us know if they spot any Twites wearing multi-coloured rings as part of our new ringing project. We’ve had several records from across Shetland and it’s been particularly fantastic to hear of the same Twites feeding on multiple of our bumblebird crops planted by crofters across Shetland.
Waders
Wader surveys for 2025 are underway and we’ve been delighted to have several new crofters interested in conducting surveys and seeing what waders they have on their land. If you are interested in helping us learn more about Shetland waders, get in touch with Harry: harry.britton@rspb.org.uk.
Coming up…
Coming into summer, we have lots to look forward to: collaboration work on the Sandness Nature Connection Project is continuing; Bumblebee ID Workshops with Shetland Amenity Trust will be popping up around Shetland; our Month in Nature Art Workshops will be taking off at the end of June; and we will be leading several school trips to some special sites for our species. Bring on the summer! if you have any questions about how you can get involved this summer, or any questions in general, get in touch with Gareth: gareth.powell@rspb.org.uk.
Keep up to date
Keep an eye on the Species on the Edge website, on our social media channels, and make sure you’re signed up to our mailing list to keep up to date with all programme news and updates over the coming months.
And remember, you can find out everything you need to know about Species on the Edge in Shetland on our area page, including our local target species, what we’re up to and how to get in touch with the local team.
