The Skerries, Isle of Anglesey facts for kids
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The Skerries are a group of small, rocky islands off the coast of Anglesey, Wales. They cover an area of about 17 hectares (that's like 17 football fields!). These islands are located about 3 kilometers away from Carmel Head, which is at the northwest tip of Anglesey.
The Skerries are super important because many seabirds come here to have their babies. It's also a cool spot for divers who want to explore the many old shipwrecks found nearby. A special building called the Skerries Lighthouse stands on the highest point of the islands.
You can visit the islands by taking a boat from Holyhead. When the tide is low, you can even walk between the different small islands. There are also little bridges to help you get around.
The name "Skerry" comes from an old language called Old Norse. It means a small rocky island or reef. The Welsh name for these islands is 'Ynysoedd y Moelrhoniaid', which means "Islands of the Seals". Sometimes, people also call them 'St Daniel's Isle'.
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Amazing Seabirds of The Skerries
The Skerries are home to a huge group of seabirds. It's like a busy bird city! These islands are especially important for a bird called the Arctic tern. Lots of them come here to breed, making it a very important place for this species in the whole country.
Rare Roseate Terns
Sometimes, a rarer bird called the roseate tern also comes to breed here. In 2018, two baby roseate terns successfully grew up and flew away from the islands for the first time in ten years! This was very exciting for bird watchers.
Other Bird Residents
Other types of birds that make their nests on The Skerries include:
- Atlantic puffin (they look like cute little penguins!)
- Black-legged kittiwake
- Common tern
- Herring gull
- Lesser black-backed gull
Why The Skerries are Protected
Because of all these amazing birds, especially the terns, The Skerries are a protected area. They are part of something called the Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and The Skerries Special Protection Area. This area also includes two other nearby spots: Cemlyn Bay and Ynys Feurig.
All three of these places are also called an Important Bird Area by a group called BirdLife International. The Skerries have also been named a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This means they are very special and need to be protected.
Helping the Birds Thrive
The terns often fly between all three of these protected sites. They are part of a bigger group of terns that live in the Irish Sea, including birds from places like Rockabill Island in Ireland.
During the time when terns are having their babies, the islands are looked after by the RSPB. They do special things to help the birds. For example, they remove a plant called tree mallow that can take over the island. They also put out special nestboxes to give the birds safe places to lay their eggs. These efforts are mainly to help the roseate terns, hoping more of them will choose to breed here.
A Rare Visitor
In July 2005, something very exciting happened for people who love watching birds. A very rare bird called a sooty tern visited The Skerries! Only a few bird watchers in Britain had ever seen this type of bird before.
Future of Tidal Power
The water between The Skerries and the main island of Anglesey might become a place where we get clean energy. There are plans to build something called the Skerries Tidal Stream Array here. This project would use the strong ocean currents to create electricity. Companies like Marine Current Turbines and RWE npower are working on this idea.
