Wildlife
Alderney is a magnet for birdwatchers. The island’s proximity to France means that species found on mainland Europe but not in Britain, are sometimes seen here.
Blonde Hedgehogs
One of the most famous residents on Alderney is the extremely rare Blonde Hedgehog (Leucistic), also known as “Alderney Spike Girls”. These Blondie's are very rare in Britain with only three examples found in thirty years of research, however, on the island of Alderney about twenty five percent of the hedgehog population is blonde.
Blonde hedgehogs became extinct on the island in the early nineteenth century, but today there are said to be over 1,000 pairs inhabiting the island.
The origin of the blonde hedgehogs remain a mystery although some claim the first species arrived on the island in the 1960’s, in a Harrods shopping bag. Five hedgehogs (including blondes) are believed to have been bought from Harrods in London, and accidentally released on the island.
Blonde hedgehogs are genetic variants. Their whiteness is caused by a recessive gene found in the common brown hedgehog; they are not albinos as often thought. These hedgehogs are just born blonde. Blonde hedgehogs have button-black eyes and attractive creamy-coloured spines, pink feet and noses, while albinos have pink eyes and pure-white spines.
It is thought that one of the animals introduced to the island was a carrier of this rare gene and it has spread throughout the hedgehog population. Normal-colour hedgehogs produce blondes only if both parents carry the blonde gene. As inbreeding occurred within the captive population, the rare gene was passed on.
“The two types interbreed but have differing characteristics. The brown ones tend to be more tenacious and aggressive, while blondes are more placid and amenable to handling.“ said Alderney Resident and Hedgehog carer Barbara Head.
The other interesting point about the blonde hedgehogs is that they don’t carry fleas, and with no predators Alderney’s hedgehogs are now in abundance and are thought to be the only breeding population of its type in the world. Among Alderney’s other unusual residents are black rabbits.
Birdlife
Puffins, Fulmars, Guillemots, Dartford Warblers, Peregines and many others are regular residents. Alderney is famous for its seabirds, especially the gannets, about 7000 pairs nest on the Channel Islands’ two gannetries, Ortac and Les Etacs (Garden Rocks), totalling approximately 2% of the world population. Arguably Les Estac is the most easily viewed colony in Europe.
Ramsar Site
The United Nations Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, otherwise known as the Ramsar Convention, officially recognised Alderney’s west coast and Burhou Island as a wetland of worldwide importance on Thursday 25 August 2005. The designated Ramsar site extends to 1,500 hectares, some 600 hectares more than mainland Alderney and includes all the waters from the island’s west coast out to the northern gannet colony of Ortac, Burhou, the islets and reefs that surround it and includes Les Etacs.
The rich birdlife of the west coast of Alderney and Burhou is particularly well-known and attracts keen birdwatchers throughout the year. Alderney is host to approximately 2% of the world’s population of northern gannets and the only European storm-petrel colony in the Channel Islands, slightly more than approximately 1% of the British population. The unique tidal streams, with speeds of up to 6 knots at spring tides, encourage a vibrant and diverse marine environment, of which little is yet known.
Burhou Island
Burhou Island, just 2 miles northwest from Braye Harbour, is a bird sanctuary. The island, owned by the States, has a small hut containing rough accommodation and can be rented for a small sum. It is closed from March to July to protect puffins and storm petrels who breed on the small rocky island during these months.
In addition, a resident population of Grey atlantic seals inhabit small islets approximately 3 miles west of the islands harbour and can be seen by boat.
The Boat “Voyager” specialises in ‘Round Island Trips’ visiting the Puffins and Gannet colonies on Burhou Island, Ortac and Les Etac’s and the Atlantic seal colony near Burhou Reef. The boat's crew have an intimate knowledge of the local waters, coupled with a good knowledge of ornithology and the history of the Island including the stories of the shipwrecks. It is the boat chosen by the Alderney Wildlife Trust for their ornithology and wild life specials.
Weather permitting Voyager runs daily trips and seat and charter bookings can be made at McAllisters Wet Fish Shop in Victoria Street, Alderney. Tel: +44 (0)1481 823666.or +44 (0)7781 160 260
The Alderney Society’s official bird recorder is Mark Atkinson whose annual Ornithological Report published below will provide you with a seasonal account of Alderney’s feathered residents and visitors. He can be contacted on atkinson@cwgsy.net