Continued monitoring at the "summer reported rat sighting areas" has shown no rat sign or activity. Checking all the monitoring in the bait stations has been completed on Iolasgor, In-Bye (including Canna House and Beach Road), Compass Hill, Water-tanks, Terraces, Geugasgor, Sloc, Tarbert Road, East Plateau (half), Nunnery, West End and Coroghon. No rat sign has been detected.
Monitoring outside the bait stations has been checked at Iolasgor, In-Bye (including Canna House and Beach Road), Compass Hill, Water-tanks, Terraces, Geugasgor, Sloc, Tarbert Road, East Plateau (half), Nunnery, West End and Coroghon. No rat sign has been detected. Trap boxes along the pier and part of Beach Road where checked. No rats were caught or detected.
Bait and monitoring stations from Tarbert Road (Lines D, E, F and G), Terraces, Compass Hill and Water-tanks areas were removed.
As the stations are removed from areas, they are packed into bulk bags (50 per bag) and the wires (holding wires, crow clips and bait wires) are straightened and packed into bundles of 50’s. All this equipment is stored in the loft in the main shed. Establishment of the long-term monitoring line has begun. This line will run around the entire shore and slopes of Canna. The bait stations will be 50 metres apart. Monitoring stations will be placed outside each bait station, with chocolate inside and outside the bait stations.
The bait for the Falkland Islands (48 pallets, approximately 10 tonnes) was picked up by the Spanish John on Wednesday 22nd November. It should reach the Falkland Islands in the New Year.
The school have had good results with the monitoring project for mice. Mice have been detected in six stations around the school. They have also had to deal with interference from crows and cattle.
Weather has been fair, with only one day lost to bad conditions (the stations and wires were packed away, rodent motels were finished and chocolate wax was made during that day).
On Saturday 25th Bob Swann, project administrator, gave an illustrated lecture to members of the Highland Biological Recording Group about the Canna Seabird Recovery Project. This was well received and those present were amazed with the effort that had gone into this project and delighted with the results.
Biz Bell, Dave Boyle and Paul Garner-Richards – WMIL, Sunday 26th November 2006
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