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Caithness birds on song for Eurovision entry?





CAITHNESS could be winging its way into a Eurovision contest next year if community councillors from the north-east of the county get their way.

Members of Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council are singing the praises of the seabirds of Duncansby Head and think they should be included in the bird equivalent of Eurovision in 2020.

Vice-chairman Bill Mowat explained that the first Sunday in May is the date when the sound of various birds song from all over the UK and Europe is broadcast.

He and his colleagues think it is time the seabirds from north-east Caithness were included in the competition.

Mr Mowat pointed out that Duncansby Head is home to tens of thousands of seabirds as they prepare for the breeding season on the vertical cliffs and said only two per cent of Britain's sea coast is made up of red sandstone which dates back 370 million years.

Duncansby Head is renowned as a seabird city. Picture: Alan Hendry
Duncansby Head is renowned as a seabird city. Picture: Alan Hendry

He said much of the seabird section of this year's broadcast was covered by Radio Telefis Eireann, RTE, Ireland's national radio and TV company.

"We would be keen to have the famed seabird city of Duncansby Head included in next year's and following annual broadcasts," he said.

"The community council would not be involved directly in the broadcasts but would be looking for informed and technically skilled nature lovers to participate, making their own arrangements with the BBC or any other broadcaster involved in creating the annual event."

Mr Mowat suggested the east-facing cliff wall near the Muckle and Peedie Stacks of Duncansby would be the ideal location to record the seabirds.

Since 2016, due to an unprecedented collaboration among public radio broadcasters throughout Europe, listeners across the continent are able to wake up to what has been dubbed the Eurovision of birdsong.


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