Farne Islands National Nature Reserve
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Welcome to Farne Islands National Nature Reserve Your visit today helps support this important seabird and seal colony. Thank you. Grey seals breed on the islands Our rangers help to look after this place for nine months of the year, by living on the islands. Puffins are most visible on the islands May to July Home to around 5000 seals and 200, 000 Don't forget to visit seabirds, the Farne our shop at Islands are a National Seahouses for lots of Nature Reserve, Farne Islands gifts. internationally important All purchases help for their wildlife. further support our work on the islands. One of our rangers for an Arctic tern. Jointo us today support our work, and toenjoy free access to hundreds of unforgettable places. Inner Farne with a view of the lighthouse from South East We hope you enjoy your day - if you have any questions please ask a ranger, we are always happy to help. Be seabird smart... Please be mindful where you put your Please help us protect the feet. Our seabirds birds from ground predators can nest anywhere. and invasive plants. Ensure that Chicks can be found your bags only contain food bought wandering far from on the day, and that they have not the nest, so if you been left on the harbour or find a chick on the anywhere that rodents could have boardwalk please accessed them. tell a ranger. Our rangers may need to check your bags. Please do not lean over, or put legs, arms or equipment over or under the ropes along the boardwalk.The fragile puffin burrows and eider nests are found all over the islands, and the birds on the cliff are Arctic tern living on the edge in very small territories. The Farne Islands provide an amazing photographic opportunity. To make the most of this and to protect the birds, please follow the photography code of conduct on the back page of this leaflet. You can see shags, razorbills and guillemots on Inner Farne Mind your step... Rocks and boardwalks can be slippy underfoot. Please take care. Inner Farne Family friendly, historic, easy walking The largest island and home to saints and monks for hundreds of years, Inner Farne is now home to hundreds of thousands of seabirds, a chapel, lighthouse and visitor centre. Find out more about this island by joining one of our A view of Inner Farne lighthouse hourly talks by our rangers. The Arctic terns might peck your head when they are protecting their young - particularly in the first 100m of the boardwalk. If you have a hat we recommend wearing it when you land on Inner Farne. Please don't wear hard hats or cycle helmets, they can damage the birds’beaks. When you hear clicking, keep moving… This is the Arctic terns' way of warning you off and may signify that they are about to peck you. Keep moving steadily through the colony to the buildings or lighthouse to allow the birds to attend their eggs and young. A hat will help protect your head from the protective terns Staple Island Rugged, rocky, photographers' paradise This craggy island is all about the birds, with the closest encounters with puffins and cliff nesting birds . Dress appropriately and wear the right footwear - the landscape is wild on Staple! The home of the eiders...When you are walking around, please keep your eye on the ground as well as around you – our eiders can nest anywhere. Look out for the eider ducks from April to June. Nature photographers' code of practice We welcome photographers on the Farne Islands and we want you to capture great memories. For you to get the perfect shot, the birds need to be calm and not feel threatened. You can help protect them by following these simple guidelines: Please be considerate of the wildlife when capturing photos. - Please ensure other visitors have a chance to take photographs, and keep the boardwalk clear. - Please ensure your equipment - including tripods - is not placed over the edges of the boardwalks or the ropes. This also applies to your limbs! - Photography should not be undertaken if it puts the subject at risk of disturbance, physical damage, causing anxiety, consequential predation, restricted movement or lessened reproductive success. - Don't be offended if our rangers ask you to move along- this is only to help protect the birds and their welfare. Please remember... The welfare of the subject is more important than the Arctic terns nesting on Inner Farne photograph Please note, the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981* must be complied with at all times. It is an offence to recklessly or intentionally disturb a Schedule 1 species whilst it is building a nest, or is in, or near a nest containing eggs or young; to disturb the dependant young of such a species or to remove nestlings or eggs from the nest of any species. * A licence is necessary to photograph Schedule 1 birds in certain circumstances Based on a 2007 revision by the Royal Photographic Society and RSPB Photography Nationla Trust Images/ Gwen Potter/ North EastWildlife Registered charity number: 205846.