About the group

Intrepid visitors have been venturing to the Shiants for many years to enjoy the wildlife, scenery and geology, but the systematic recording of the islands' seabird populations did not start until the early 1970s when a group led by David Steventon made their inaugural exploratory trip. As trained bird ringers with permits from the British Trust for Ornithology, their surveying focused on the capture and ringing of seabirds as well as colony counts. See the Yearly Reports page for the early trip reports.

The group continued their yearly visits until the mid 1980s when visits temporarily ceased. Then in 2008 the Shiants were rediscovered by a new team lead by experienced seabird ringer Jim Lennon, and with monitoring restarting David Steventon and several of the original team rejoined. The Shiants Auk Ringing Group now comprises of a number of regular experienced team members, with opportunities for less experienced seabirders as well as those new to seabird ringing to join the yearly expeditions. 

Trips take place at the end of June / beginning of July each year, lasting two weeks, and are timed to coincide with the majority of auk chicks being of ringable age. The team camp on Eilean a' Taighe, using the small bothy as a kitchen, store room and communal space.