It’s been an incredible 41 years since the razorbill chick was born and ringed and now it seems that a British razorbill is completely dominating previous bird age records. The razorbill, known as razorbill M23170, has been crowned the oldest bird of its kind in Britain. It wasn’t a tough decision to make since the average lifespan of a razorbill is just 13 years.

When M23170 was still growing his adult feathers, the Beatles had just released their legendary Sgt Pepper album, hippies were braiding their hair and spouting their “make love not war” slogan and Vietnam was being ravaged by war. It was a time when legends were being made and this little bird must have wanted in on the action. Now, at the grand old age of 41 years, M23170 is the oldest known bird of his kind. In order to survive this long he has had to not only defeat his genetically pre-programmed lifespan but he has also had to avoid dangers such as oil spills and fishing nets. And yet somehow he has managed to conquer all these obstacles and he is still living in the same place where he was born and tagged back in 1967 – Bardsey Island off the coast of north Wales. The bird was spotted on the island during a survey conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology. If it was possible to follow the life story of this incredible creature it would no doubt be an eventful one.

The incredible bird joins a list of ‘extreme’ age records of birds who have far outlived their peers. He shares the list with a 31-year-old curlew (average life expectancy is five years) and a 13-year-old barn owl (average life expectancy is three years). The curlew was doing remarkably well and was still breeding when it was last found. The barn owl was unfortunately found under much less favorable circumstances. The discovery of the razorbill brings to light the importance of ringing birds, since this enables ornithologists to monitor the survival and movement of a particular species. If you find a ringed bird – dead or alive – you should make every effort to contact relative authorities so they can put the data on the bird’s ring to good use.

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If you are looking for a great new place to enjoy a bird watching holiday, you might want to consider Fair Isle. Situated in the Atlantic Ocean somewhere between The Shetland and Orkney Islands, this little island is just three miles long and 1.5 miles wide. While the island is famous for its bird life, don’t expect exceptional weather or a bustling metropolis. This little island is frigid and virtually isolated – so you’d better pack warm!

Despite the fact that this tiny island is so cold, it is not completely deserted. Apart from the weather station it is home to a tiny population that regularly engages in traditional crafts. Visitors to the island can usually see locals busy with traditional boatbuilding, stained glass, knitting colorful ‘Fair Isle’ jumpers, making silver jewelry or creating straw-backed chairs. However, the real allure of this place is the wildlife and bird lovers will find that there is definitely not a shortage of birds here! The striking coastal cliffs make the perfect place for thousands of different birds. Kittiwakes, razorbills, fulmars, black guillemots and puffins can be found in abundance here. The moors enjoy a slightly different crowd and here you will see terns and skuas that have chosen this area as their summer nesting grounds. Though pretty, the birds are wild and fiercely protective over their young and visitors venturing out on the moors will likely find themselves under attack from these dedicated parents.

No trip bird watching trip to Fair Isle would be complete without a visit to the Bird Observatory. In 1948 George Waterson decided to purchase Fair Isle, which he planned to use for a bird observatory. This he did, with the result that the island’s economy was boosted. The Fair Isle Bird Observatory has played a large role in the study of bird migration. Not only did it help pioneer such studies but researchers were also able to study how changes in the marine environment affected bird populations. Today the island continues to be popular amongst bird watchers, though wildlife enthusiasts in general also find it an excellent destination.

Bird lovers will soon get to know the Fair Isle Specials: the Lanceolated warbler, the Pechora pipit, the Yellow-breasted bunting and the Palla’s Grasshopper. All four species regularly make their appearance on this small island along with a variety of other birds that migrate here to breed. Accommodation in this tiny corner of the world is freely available at the observatory, so pack in your winter woolies and get ready to join the 400 or so visitors who take in the sights at Fair Isle each year!

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