Fair Isle Bird Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
On Fair Isle, the remote island lying between Orkney and Shetland, Scotland, the Fair Isle Bird Observatory has been tracking migrating birds since 1948.
About Fair Isle Bird Observatory
The observatory was established by the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust, founded by George Waterston, Ian Pitman and Arthur Duncan in the years after the Second World War. It first operated out of Nissen huts left behind from wartime use on the island.
History
Fair Isle Bird Observatory officially opened on 28 August 1948 and has run continuous seabird and migration monitoring ever since, making it one of the longest-running ornithological research stations in Britain.
Telescopes & research
Rather than astronomy, the observatory's work centres on bird migration studies and the seabird colonies that nest on Fair Isle's cliffs, with decades of continuous records used by ornithologists across Britain.
Location & getting there
Fair Isle sits in open water between Orkney and Shetland, Scotland - one of the UK's most remote inhabited islands, reached by boat or small aircraft from the Shetland mainland.
Visiting Fair Isle Bird Observatory
The observatory offers guest accommodation and welcomes visitors; check its official website for current opening dates, travel options and booking before you plan a trip.
See your named star from here
Fair Isle's isolation from city lights makes its night sky exceptionally dark. If you've named a star with Star Register, a clear night on the island is a memorable place to try to pick it out for yourself - look up its coordinates in the star catalogue before you go.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
