Proposed SPA digital aerial bird surveys take flight over Orkney

The Council has recently agreed to work in partnership with Marine Scotland and NatureScot to undertake high resolution digital aerial bird surveys for the North Orkney and Scapa Flow proposed Special Protection Areas.

These surveys will support the management of the internationally significant bird populations in Orkney waters and the management of new development and activities, for example ports and harbour or renewable energy projects.

The bird surveys are planned to take place over the winters of 2021/22 and 2022/23 and will be managed by NatureScot, with support from Marine Scotland and the Council.

The seas around Orkney are rich in marine life and attract some of the largest concentrations of Scottish marine birds. To protect these birds and the rich feeding grounds and sheltered waters on which they depend, Scapa Flow and the inshore marine waters to the north of the Orkney Mainland are currently being considered for classification as Special Protection Areas for birds by the Scottish Ministers.

Special Protection Areas are classified under the EU Birds Directive to protect rare and vulnerable bird species.

The identification and classification of marine Special Protection Areas in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Government (Marine Scotland). NatureScot and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) provide advice to the Scottish Government on these matters.

Special Protection Areas are considered when assessing proposals for new development and economic activities and provide a high level of protection for the identified bird species. Development and activities can take place within Special Protection Areas, but proposals are subject to an assessment process to consider adverse effects on the integrity of these nature conservation sites can be avoided before they can be approved.

Scapa Flow supports important wintering populations of marine birds as well as important breeding populations of red-throated divers. Over 20 percent of the British population of great northern diver, 10 percent of black throated diver and the largest concentration of Slavonian grebe over winter in Scapa Flow.

The inshore marine waters to the north of the Orkney Mainland are home to large numbers of non-breeding waterfowl including eider, great northern divers, long-tailed ducks, red-breasted mergansers, shags, Slavonian grebes and velvet scoters which winter here. In summer, these waters also provide important feeding grounds for breeding red-throated divers.

The Council has engaged with the proposals to classify the two proposed marine Special Protection Areas in Orkney waters since 2014. The Council has made representations to the Scottish Government that an appropriate balance needs to be struck between the conservation of biodiversity and the needs of local communities to benefit from future sustainable development and economic opportunities.