The Scottish Seabird Centre
The Scottish Seabird Centre is an award winning wildlife visitor centre and one of Scotland's five star attractions. From its stunning location overlooking the sea and islands of the Forth, visitors can enjoy a close encounter with nature.
Cameras on the islands beam back live panoramas and close-ups onto giant screens of such good quality that visitors can even read the rings on individual birds' feet!
The Scottish Seabird Centre is a charity and the entry prices include a 10% voluntary donation. This allows them to reclaim the tax on the money you pay through the government’s Gift Aid Scheme. All income is used to support the work of the charity.
The Scottish Seabird Centre is a charity dedicated to inspiring people to understand and care for wildlife and the environment. It is also a visitor and education centre using state of the art cameras to bring people closer to the seabirds and marine wildlife.
They are also involved in conservation and campaigning, including the SOS Puffin project – to turn around the fate of the puffins on two islands in the Forth. One of these, formerly one of the largest puffin colonies in the UK with 28,000 pairs has now been reduced to just a few thousand because of an invasive alien plant, Tree Mallow which has overtaken the islands and destroyed the puffins’ habitat.
With the help of 150 volunteers we are clearing the islands and encouraging the birds to return – already within a few months, there was a positive impact, with 99% of the burrows we had succeeded in clearing being reoccupied. We are also working with the Marine Conservation Society, WWF, etc to campaign for a Marine Bill, and with RSPB Scotland on raising awareness of the issues surrounding climate change and seabirds.
Click here to go to the website for more information.
| Wildlife Highlights From January onwards 140,000 Atlantic gannets return to the Bass Rock, the world's largest single rock gannet colony. The Firth of Forth is home to spectacular seabird cities with over 300,000 seabirds, puffins, guillemots, shags, kittiwakes returning to this haven for wildlife in early spring to nest each year. There have been a large number of sightings of cetaceans, including bottlenose dolphins, Risso's dolphins, porpoises and whales including minke, pilot, fin, humpback and killer whales, and it is also the site of one of the largest grey seal colonies on the east coast of Great Britain. | Location: The Centre is just 30 minutes away from Edinburgh by car, bus or train and only an hour from the English border. Parking is free for visitors and there is a fantastic inclusive day package with First ScotRail (ask for the Special Seabird Centre package). Grid Reference: NT554856 |
| Access & Facilities The Centre has full disabled access, baby changing area and food warming. Opening Times Open All Year - except Christmas Day April - September Monday - Sunday 10.00am - 6.00pm February, March and October Monday - Friday 10.00am - 5.00pm Saturday - Sunday 10.00am - 5.30pm November - January Monday - Friday 10.00am - 4.00pm Saturday - Sunday 10.00am - 5.30pm Last admission to Discovery Centre and Café 45 minutes before closing. | Ticket Prices
|
These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.
Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment