Latest news with #BirdObservatory
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Odin the baby raven rescued by coastguards on Calf of Man
Coastguards have scaled the cliffs of the Calf of Man to rescue a baby raven which was trapped in hay twine for several of the Bird Observatory on the remote island contacted the Port Erin Coastguards after growing concerned about the six-week-old bird which had appeared to be caught on Fox, Estate Warden on the Calf of Man said the team had regularly been in contact with Port Erin Coastguards and asked if they could save the chick as a training members of the coastguard team lowered themselves down the cliffs she said, "and the casualty in this case was the raven", affectionately called Odin, which was cut from the twine. "This raven was stuck in really knotted baler twine, which the parents had collected and built their nest out of, so it is just a reminder of the impact humans can have", she said."If we hadn't intervened there is no way that raven would have gotten off of its nest... we were even struggling to get the twine off with scissors".Luckily, one of the coastguards was experienced with ringing birds, and was "happy to cut the raven free, which most people would be afraid of", she said. After lowering themselves to the bottom of the cliff face , the chick was checked over and although "a bit skinny", it was healthy, she it was due to rain heavily that night, Odin was given food, water and shelter at the next day, the team returned Odin to near its nest, and while the raven was "a little bit wobbly given it had never been on solid ground or flown before, it did take a tentative first flight for a few metres which is really good", she said. "Hopefully we have given it the best chance for survival", she of the coastguards, she said: "We don't want to take them away from saving lives, but it worked out it was beneficial for them to come and rescue the raven for training". Ravens were a species with a declining population in the area and there were two breeding pairs on the Calf of Man, meaning members of the public could not disturb their nests. The team of four on the Calf of Man held a license to be able to intervene with the species when necessary. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Scottish Sun
27-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Tiny UK island that is only open five months of the year with huge sharks
One volunteer compared working there to being on I'm A Celeb ISLAND EXPLORER Tiny UK island 'feels like a sci-fi novel' with dolphins & 12m-long sharks – and it's only open for the next five months THE Calf of Man is now open to visitors for the summer season - but for a limited time. The remote island sits south of the Isle of Man with just two people living there from March to November. Advertisement 5 The Calf of Man is south of the Isle of Man and only 600 acres long Credit: Alamy 5 The island is completely uninhabited apart from a few volunteers Credit: Alamy Uninhabited outside of the season, it is owned by Manx National Heritage who manage the island that is primarily used as a nature reserve and bird observatory. And the Calf of Man has opened up to holidaymakers who can visit the island from May to September, with small ferries leaving from the ports of St Mary or Port Erin from the Isle of Man. Boat trips are available daily during the summer months with weather and tides permitting. All trips depend on the weather, and the island can be cut off for weeks when it's bad because the journey can be dangerous - which is why there are shipwrecks surrounding it. Advertisement Because of this, reaching the shores of the Calf of Man can take between 15 and 40 minutes. On the island, you'll find two ruined lighthouses, but barely any people. The 600 acres island is home to hundreds of birds, seals, dolphins, moths, butterflies and insects that you can spot on your visit. Another popular animal you can find there during the summer is the basking shark. Advertisement Basking sharks can grow up to 12 metres long and swim close to the shore of the island. In the summer, they can be seen feeding on plankton near the surface. While most visitors opt for a day trip, it is possible to stay overnight on the island - in the one accommodation available. Exploring UK Islands: A Journey Through Beautiful Isles (1) 5 Basking sharks are regularly spotted during the summer months Credit: Alamy The Bird Observatory is a self-catered hostel, and on the Island Escapes website, it said that visitors need to 'bring their own food supplies and a sleeping bag'. Advertisement It also adds that 'a stay on the Calf is only suitable for those who are fit enough to cope with the terrain and conditions'. Bookings run from June 2, 2025 until the end of August and the hostel can sleep up to eight people. One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: "Calf of Man is one of those fantasy locations you see in films, or read about in sci-fi novels. 5 Seals like to make an appearance on the shores too Credit: Alamy Advertisement "Upon seeing it in the distance, every one of those stories will spring forth, and you will find your mouth forming an automatic 'wow.'" One woman, Chloe, recently gave up her regular 9-5 for a chance to work as a volunteer on the Calf of Man. She snapped up one of the most remote jobs in the British Isles and became an assistant estate warden. Chloe enjoyed the experience so much she even returned to work as a paid estate warden for a nine months and likened it to being on the TV series I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Advertisement Here are the UK's 'happiest islands' with white sand beaches and attractions older than the Egyptian pyramids. And five islands off the coast of the UK you can visit without needing your passport.
