Friday 26th April comments: As like the previous two springs, this year the month of April has been cold and it has been a slow start to the seabird breeding season.
However it is slowly moving in the right direction and on 15th April we discovered our first sitting female Eider on the island which is now incubating eggs. Since then we’ve had one or two more nest with good numbers starting to build on the island Loch and on the sea surrounding the island (you can hear the displaying males as they try to attract a mate). Interestingly birds can actually delay their breeding season if they are not in good enough body condition but it looks like things will get back to normal very soon.
Female Eiders nest all over the Isle of May, sometimes on pathways (so you have to watch your feet when walking) and generally have a clutch of 4-6 eggs. Females will sit tight on the nest for the entire duration of the incubation period (which is approximately 26 days) and during this period females can lose 40% of their body weight and as a result have to be in good condition before nesting. Within 24 hours of the chicks hatching, the females will take the young to sea. Birds will form large crèches as young and adults from a multitude of nests will just mix as young grow bigger and stronger as they head towards independence. On the Isle of May the loch in the centre of the island is an ideal location for taking their young in the first few days. Eventually all adults and young will move off towards the nearby coastlines where chicks will be raised. Predation by large gulls is one of the main threats to the youngsters.
Isle of May National Nature Reserve 