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Environmentalists tried to live in the Human Calf
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Environmentalists tried to live in the Human Calf

A nature charity is looking for a team of conservationists to live and work on a remote island off the south coast of the Isle of Man.

The Manx Wildlife Trust has had a bird observatory based on the Calf of Man since the 1950s, and over the years the team has grown from one to four.

The charity is looking for a bird warden, assistant bird warden, site manager and assistant site manager.

Calf Manager Lara Howe said the roles provided the charity with “really important information about what is going on with our bird species” and enabled long-term data collection.

Belonging to Manx National Heritage, the Calf of Man is classified as a nature reserve and is approximately one square mile (1.6 km).

The bird observatory on the island is one of 20 bird observatories in the British Isles.

Missions are seasonal, with the team living off-grid on the island from March to November.

The work involves researching, protecting and managing habitats.

The team is also monitoring the island’s seabird population, including Manx shearwaters. Mice reached Human Calf Dr Howe said after a shipwreck:

He said the shearwater population was growing again and the charity was considering reintroducing puffins to the Human Calf.

The calf bird list includes 288 species, of which 67 are recorded as breeding.

Last month the charity announced that Aron Sapsford, who has been a bird warden on the island for 11 seasons and is the longest-serving warden in Calf of Man history, will be stepping down.

Manx Wildlife Trust has been contracted by Manx National Heritage to undertake conservation duties.