Islands of Birds
I made these photographs around a small number of island seabird colonies. The islands featured include Bass Rock and the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth, Scotland, Noss in Shetland, and the small islands of Grímsey, Vigur and Flatey in Iceland. This series celebrates the birds that live on these islands; the unique characters of each species and their collective strength and resilience. Over centuries, each species has found its own ways to survive in the often harsh environmental conditions of coastal landscapes and the open ocean. It is now well understood that the birds nesting in these locations are threatened by the effects of climate change, pollution, unsustainable fishing and other pressures resulting from human industry. Survey work in recent decades has revealed dramatic declines in many seabird populations. While these images celebrate the wonder of the natural world, it is also important to remember what we stand to lose if the work is not done to protect it and prevent further damage to the environment.