News / Whooping it up
BIRD lovers in Shetland’s south mainland are celebrating after a pair of whooper swans successfully raised four cygnets on the Loch of Spiggie RSPB reserve for the first time in 92 years.
The pair hatched five eggs in their second attempt after failing to produce any young last year, though one cygnet was killed by local wildlife.
RSPB Shetland warden Helen Moncrieff said it was “fantastic news” for Shetland’s population of the amber-listed species, which they had been trying to protect from being disturbed by visitors to the popular loch over the past few months.
She said they would stay as a family until late winter or early spring before the cygnets start fending for themselves.
The history of breeding whooper swans at Loch of Spiggie began in 1907 when a wounded bird was brought from nearby Loch of Clumlie to join another maimed bird.
The pair first bred in 1910 and continued irregularly until the end of the First World War, only to be shot in 1920.
“Some whooper swans remain in Shetland all year round, with breeding attempts occurring annually since 1994 – but this is the first time we’ve seen a pair successfully produce baby whooper swans at Loch of Spiggie. To think it’s taken almost a century makes it all the more remarkable,” Moncrieff said.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.