 Grey seals live near Hilbre island |
Wildlife campaigners have called for a no low-fly zone over a Merseyside island to protect rare birds and seals. Rangers have noticed more microlite planes have been flying low over Hilbre Island, off the Wirral coast, and scaring the wildlife.
Wirral Council has approached the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to ask pilots to fly at a restricted height.
Hang glider pilots are already warned to stay away from areas including the Martin Mere reserve in Lancashire.
They are asked to fly at an agreed minimum height over the zoned areas.
Atlantic grey seals and common harbour seals are found around the island, which lies at the mouth of the Dee Estuary.
Bird roosts
Among the birds that inhabit the island are coaltits and redpolls.
Hilbre is within the Dee Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest and is also an internationally protected site.
Jo Hanik, Senior Ranger, said: "Hilbre and West Kirby are recognised as being internationally important high tide bird roosts and we have a duty to ensure that any activity taking place does not adversely affect the birds that are disturbed from their roosts.
"For many years the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens have existed to ask people not to disturb the feeding and roost sites.
"This is not usually done deliberately, but by people that aren't aware of the implications of their actions.
"The same situation exists whereby the operators of these aircraft are usually unaware that flying low over the islands and close to the shore at high water can frighten the birds causing them to leave the roosts which even for a short time results in them spending energy which should be spent on feeding during their migration."
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
