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Our work here
16 December 2009
The Loons and Loch of Banks is a rich wetland reserve, which has been managed by the RSPB since the early 1980s.
It protects a variety of important habitats and associated species, including what is thought to be Orkney's best example of a basin mire complex.
We are managing the reserve to provide ideal breeding conditions for a variety of wading birds such as lapwings, redshanks, curlews and nationally important numbers of breeding black-tailed godwits.
Cattle graze the marshy grassland, creating a mosaic of non-uniform vegetation providing ideal ground conditions for nesting waders. The wetlands also support 10 species of breeding duck including pintails, shovelers and wigeons.
Our management of the wetlands provides a haven for wintering wildfowl and waders. Large flocks of ducks such as wigeons gather to forage, as do important numbers of Greenland white-fronted geese.
We are concentrating some of our work on providing suitable habitat for the globally threatened corncrake. A 'corncrake corridor' has been created - here we provide areas of tall vegetation in the early and late part of the year.
We are managing the reserve for the nationally important population of great yellow bumblebees. Maintaining suitable plant species to provide foraging opportunities throughout the season.
We aim to provide a wildlife spectacle and learning resource that is accessible to all, without compromising the reserves' intrinstic value.