Interactions at the Bird Colonies, 2000's

Description

Steve Hartley is the founder of Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, New Quay. He now runs Dolphin Survey Boat Trips, however previously fished the waters of Cardigan Bay.

A member of our Living Seas Team sat down with Steve, to discuss his memories of life in the Bay. Here, he discusses how interactions with wildlife, specifically birds, has changed since the early 2000's.

Recollection as follows:

"They’d go and see the bird colonies, and the trick then in those days was to reverse the boat as deep into the bird colonies, when they were all on the ledges. Blow the horn, and then watch them all fly off.

Literally, I remember being on the Ermol VI and they’d get it so, on a calm day, there’s literally about a foot either side of the stern. You’d go right back into the cave, and just hammer the throttle and blow the horn at the same time.

Everybody would be going: 'Wow' – you know? Not realising at all, of course, that the chicks that were left, a percent were plucked away by the black backed gulls in the chaos. Who knows what the damage would have been, eggs rolling off – you know."

To learn more about Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, please visit:

• https://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/cardigan-bay-marine-wildlife-centre/ (link opens in new window)