Species on the Edge Orkney Officers: Helen Cromarty (RSPB Scotland) – Project Officer, and Sam Stringer (RSPB Scotland) -People Engagement Officer
Our Orkney team really jumped into their first six months of Species on the Edge!
By October 2023, having kicked off activity in Orkney in the spring, they had already engaged with over 1000 people at events, talks, and in schools across the area. They attended the Orkney Agricultural Show, Orkney Science Festival, and were part of the exhibition ‘Nature in a Changing World’ at Stromness Museum from April to October. They undertook over 40 species surveys for waders, terns, bumblebees, and bats, and worked with 15 volunteers.
We team are currently discovering more about bats in Orkney with the local bat group and have a family bat walk planned with Scottish Wildlife Trust at the end of October. It is a surprise to some that bats can be found in Orkney, but last year in 2022 there were 81 sightings, mostly of the common pipistrelle – our target bat species in Orkney.
Sam and Helen are excited to be planning their activities for 2024, including learning more about their target plant species and the leaf beetle, making habitat enhancements, putting on new events, and welcoming more volunteers to join them! If you want to find out how you can help nature in Orkney, get in touch! Samantha.stringer@rspb.org.uk
