Measures introduced to protect Lihou wildlife

Saturday 01 April 2023

Temporary ropes will help protect nesting birds at Lihou Island.

They mark the areas birds use so people do not walk there and disturb the birds in the site, which is recognised as an internationally important wetland.

On the main island, you find species from the familiar robin to the more elusive lesser black-backed gull. 

Lihou’s rocky outcrops and shingle banks provide a good nesting environment for species like European shags, oystercatchers, and gulls. 

“Lihou is a unique site locally because human disturbance is limited due to the tidal range permitting access across the causeway,” a States spokesperson said.

“It is important to reduce disturbance to conserve nesting sites here and around other rocky islets and cliffs so that these species can thrive in their natural environment.”

Temporary ropes have again been installed on Lihou to protect breeding pairs of internationally important bird species which have been seen nesting around Lihou.

For more info about what you can do to protect Lihou's wildlife, go to https://t.co/zupux1SMNv

Paul Hillion pic.twitter.com/rdny4xU9i9

— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) March 29, 2023

Other measures to protect wildlife include a ban on dogs on the causeway and Lihou Island. 

If dogs disturb foraging birds it reduces their energy reserves which is especially harmful at a time when they are feeding young. 

It is recommended that Lihoumel, the island to the west of Lihou, and Lissroy, the rock outcrop at the end of the shingle bank closest to the headland, is not visited from February to August, as it is a particularly important breeding site for the European shag.

People are being asked not to walk on the shingle banks as these are important for ground-nesting species such as oystercatchers. Nests can be difficult to spot and easily trampled on if you are off the designated paths.