Seabirds on Lundy: their current status, recent history and prospects for the restoration of a once-important bird area

摘要

Once host to some exceptionally important seabird colonies, the island of Lundy, in the Bristol Channel, lost much of its special seabird interest during the twentieth century. The eradication of rats (significant predators of seabirds on islands throughout the world) from Lundy in 2003-04 may pave the way for a return of the island's once-flourishing colonies.This paper sets out, for the record, what is known of seabird population changes on Lundy. While it is too early to formally recognise the start of recovery, we identify some very encouraging signs that the recent eradication has been effective and that the island once again provides conditions in which seabirds are able to flourish.