LIVE video footage of wildlife on the Ailsa Craig could be featured onto the walls of Girvan’s Quay Zone.

The Girvan Town Team have been in conversation with the RSPB to see if it could be possible to display live action, from a drone, at the new leisure centre.

This was discussed at a recent Girvan Town Team meeting. RSPB own 50 per cent of the island while the rest belongs to Lord Ailsa.

The charity visit the Ailsa Craig at least three times a year to take footage which the Town Team now hopes to play on the walls of the new facility.

There are 1.1 millions members of the RSPB and Town Team members say that they have been interested in forming a partnership with them. 

Puffins are just one of the many birds that have been spotted on the island and could be witnessed at the swimming pool.

If successful, the project will see still life and photographs before it is transformed into live videos.

The Ailsa Craig is home to around 73,000 seabirds including gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars which are found on the cliffs and crags.
Puffin, shags, black guillemots, herring and lesser black-backed gulls are found on the lower parts of the reserve.

It’s the third largest gannet colony in the UK, with around 33,200 pairs spotted on the nature reserve in 2014. 

The much loved puffin has returned to the island following the eradication of rats in the early 1990s. Bio security is one of the most important aspects of the work carried out on Ailsa Craig as well as monitoring seabird populations.

So far the best way to see the seabirds is from a boat, with various operators running day trips. But this could all change if live broadcasts are made at the Quay Zone.

Landing on the island is difficult and can be dangerous. Derelict buildings and old quarrying artefacts are in a poor state of repair and not suitable for public access.

Great care is needed by anyone who lands on the island to avoid these hazards and to minimise disturbance of the nesting birds. 

If you are new to birdwatching round the island tours (summer only) give excellent views of gannets and puffins and Manx shearwaters can be seen en route. 

RSPB describe the trip as a fabulous experience of a large seabird colony.
RSPB Scotland welcomes responsible access for dog owners, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. 

During the ground-nestingseason, April 1 to August 15 they would ask that dog owners keep pets close by, on a short lead and clean up after them.

More details on https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/find-a-reserve/reserves-a-z/reserves-by-name/a/ailsacraig/about.aspx