Next 'in-person' Talk:
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Safeguarding Scotland’s seabirds
A talk with Sophie Smith Monday 8th September 2025
7.00pm |
Gannet © David Palmar
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This is the first of our in-person meetings for the 2025/26 season and will be held in:
Partick Burgh Hall, 9 Burgh Hall Street, Partick, Glasgow G11 5LW at 7pm. See below for further details about the venue.
Talk Subject - Safeguarding Scotland’s Seabirds
Scotland is a jigsaw of over 790 islands, and though only a small number of these are inhabited by people, they offer refuge and sanctuary to our seabirds and are home to internationally important numbers. While under pressure from climate change, fishing bycatch, increasing marine development and recently the devasting impacts of avian influenza, their biggest terrestrial threat is one that we can safeguard against. Invasive mammalian predators, species like rats, mice, stoats, are not naturally found on these breeding strongholds and can have devasting impacts on populations that are already struggling. To date, twelve Scottish islands have already lost their Manx Shearwaters due to invasive mammalian predators.
Through biosecurity we can protect Scotland’s islands and ensure we don’t lose more of our incredible seabirds this way. Biosecurity for Scotland is a partnership project working with 38 seabird islands, focussing on the use of surveillance tools, awareness raising and working with boat operators and harbours to increase biosecurity in their operations. Come along to learn more about how we can help our vulnerable species.
Speaker - Sophie Smith
Sophie Smith works with Biosecurity for Scotland, helping to protect vital Scottish islands from invasive mammalian predators. Her fascination with islands began as an armchair traveller, but truly took root during her time living and working on Lundy Island. Now based in Orkney, she spends her spare time island hopping—having explored nearly 40 UK islands to date. Sophie previously served as Wildlife Monitoring Officer for the Orkney Native Wildlife Project and began her conservation career as an Assistant Warden at an RSPB reserve in Oxfordshire.
Scotland is a jigsaw of over 790 islands, and though only a small number of these are inhabited by people, they offer refuge and sanctuary to our seabirds and are home to internationally important numbers. While under pressure from climate change, fishing bycatch, increasing marine development and recently the devasting impacts of avian influenza, their biggest terrestrial threat is one that we can safeguard against. Invasive mammalian predators, species like rats, mice, stoats, are not naturally found on these breeding strongholds and can have devasting impacts on populations that are already struggling. To date, twelve Scottish islands have already lost their Manx Shearwaters due to invasive mammalian predators.
Through biosecurity we can protect Scotland’s islands and ensure we don’t lose more of our incredible seabirds this way. Biosecurity for Scotland is a partnership project working with 38 seabird islands, focussing on the use of surveillance tools, awareness raising and working with boat operators and harbours to increase biosecurity in their operations. Come along to learn more about how we can help our vulnerable species.
Speaker - Sophie Smith
Sophie Smith works with Biosecurity for Scotland, helping to protect vital Scottish islands from invasive mammalian predators. Her fascination with islands began as an armchair traveller, but truly took root during her time living and working on Lundy Island. Now based in Orkney, she spends her spare time island hopping—having explored nearly 40 UK islands to date. Sophie previously served as Wildlife Monitoring Officer for the Orkney Native Wildlife Project and began her conservation career as an Assistant Warden at an RSPB reserve in Oxfordshire.
The Venue - Partick Burgh Hall @ 7pm
This is near Partick bus, underground and train station (see link for map). Car parking should be available in the adjacent streets e.g. Burgh Hall Street, Peel Street and Fortrose Street once the parking regulation hours have passed (currently after 6pm).
To cover the hall hire, we charge an entrance fee of £3 min. There will be no additional charge for the tea, coffee, and biscuits. The fee will be reduced to £1 for students and for others at the discretion of the committee. It would be very helpful if you could bring with you the exact change. We do not have any debit card handling facility.
If you know you do not receive branch notices but would like to, you can sign up here. Click to join the SOC .
Rebecca Dickson
Clyde Branch Secretary
[email protected]
This is near Partick bus, underground and train station (see link for map). Car parking should be available in the adjacent streets e.g. Burgh Hall Street, Peel Street and Fortrose Street once the parking regulation hours have passed (currently after 6pm).
To cover the hall hire, we charge an entrance fee of £3 min. There will be no additional charge for the tea, coffee, and biscuits. The fee will be reduced to £1 for students and for others at the discretion of the committee. It would be very helpful if you could bring with you the exact change. We do not have any debit card handling facility.
If you know you do not receive branch notices but would like to, you can sign up here. Click to join the SOC .
Rebecca Dickson
Clyde Branch Secretary
[email protected]