Fresh aims to protect the Uists' shorebirds

Internationally important numbers of breeding waders help to support the rural economy of the Outer Hebrides, the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) board has recognised.

Tourism, to which local wildlife — such as the islands' famous breeding waders — is recognised as a key asset, is believed to be worth around £53million a year locally, and there are plans to grow its contribution to £63million over the next five years. The Uists support nesting Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Snipe, Lapwing and Oystercatcher, but numbers have been declining since the mid-1980s, one of the reasons being egg predation by introduced, non-native hedgehogs.

Redshank, North Uist, Outer Hebrides (Photo: Artur Stankiewicz)

Efforts to stem the shorebird decline have been in progress since 2004, with the non-lethal solution of translocating trapped hedgehogs employed since 2007. Earlier this February, proposals to mount a fresh drive to save the internationally important numbers of waders were backed by community leaders in the Outer Hebrides.

Research in 2012–14 showed that hedgehogs were predating eggs (and occasionally small chicks) and that they were consequently having a major impact on the hatching success rates of waders in European Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in South Uist.

A range of solutions was presented to SNH in Inverness, including the complete removal of hedgehogs, clearing them from SSSIs and European SPAs, or simply leaving them to breed. One of the removal options the board was asked to consider concerns hedgehog removal from the Uists in two five-year phases at a cost of around £2.9m over five years, reducing to around £2.1m over five years for phase two. The 10-year project would aim to see the ultimate removal of all hedgehogs, giving the wader bird populations a chance to stabilise and recover.

Ringed Plover, Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides (Photo: Joe Graham)

Ian Ross, SNH chairman, commented: "Action is proposed to counter the worrying decline in key wader species in the Uists. Managing invasive non-native species is a high priority in the islands. This would represent not only an investment in the natural heritage, but also the character, culture and economic future of the islands."

"We [SNH] and our partners are committed to removal of the hedgehogs which are trapped safely and humanely, and removed from the Uists to the mainland."

Paul Walton, head of RSPB Scotland's species and habitats department, said: "RSPB Scotland commends these renewed efforts from SNH to secure funding to help the breeding waders of Uist. The key message in this challenging work is that everyone should be careful not to release non-native animals into the wild — especially on islands."

Nature-based tourism is recognised in the Tourism Outer Hebrides Strategy 2020 — with the internationally important wader populations one of the key attractions for visitors early in the season. There is a risk that fewer visitors will travel to the islands if there are fewer waders to see, thus potentially having an adverse effect on tourism and the local economy.