Perfect Predators

The title of this Orkney Nature Festival leaflet.

I spent an interesting morning at a workshop run by Orkney Native Wildlife project. They are one year into a five year Stoat eradication project.

Today's session, for those involved in the tourist industry, was detailing some of the wonderful bird and wildlife we have here.

We have impressive populations of birds of prey.

Nearly a quarter of all of the UK's hen harriers breed on Orkney. It nests on the ground and so chicks and eggs are vulnerable. Voles are a favourite food. We have the delicious Orkney variety of vole available, but unfortunately they make an easy meal for the stoats too.

Declining elsewhere, we have the highest density of breeding curlew in the world. Another ground nesting bird.

And so the list continued and the need to tackle the stoat problem became clear.

There is science, determination and urgency behind this project. And apparently it is being closely watched by New Zealand who have a target to get rid of all their non-native invasive species by 2050.