NESTING gull chicks have delayed work to remove old harbour structures at Kyleakin Harbour.
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), which owns the infrastructure, appointed Orkney-based Leask Marine Ltd to demolish the redundant ferry berthing infrastructure.
However, when the firm arrived on-site over the weekend to start work, three gull chicks were found nesting on top of one of the dolphin structures. As a result, CMAL has demobilised the project to avoid disturbing the young birds.
Brian Sydney, senior engineer at CMAL, said, “The area was checked for wildlife during the initiation phase, but clearly the birds have set-up home in the intervening period. We can’t move or disturb the chicks, so we have decided the best and most efficient action is to return to site later in the summer after the chicks have flown the nest. Timings have yet to be confirmed, but it’s likely we will return in September.”
