Shearwater numbers rise after brown rat cull

Tue, 09 Dec 2014

Efforts to eradicate brown rats from the Calf of Man have resulted in the highest number of shearwaters being recorded.

Manx National Heritage says there have been 424 occupied burrows this year - an increase of 76 from 2013.

The rodents have preyed on the ground nesting birds, their eggs and their young - causing shearwater numbers to fall catastrophically almost to the point of extinction.

Several more years of scientific study are needed to confirm that the population is still recovering with MNH saying it's too early to predict if the trend will continue.

However Kate Hawkins says despite two reports of the rodents returning, everything is looking positive: