|  | Royal Marines have scaled cliffs in Devon as part of a unique conservation exercise.
The troops are installing a webcam and microwave transmitters so a colony of breeding kittiwakes can be monitored.
The birds are heading ashore to breed on the cliffs, near Exmouth, which have one of the UK's largest colonies.
The commandos were asked to install the cameras by local conservationists, who hope to learn more about the birds through the hi-tech monitoring.
 | | A Royal Marine abseils down the cliff |
The tiny remote-controlled camera will be able to zoom in and follow the gulls, which are known for their snowy white plumage and the distinctive black tips on the ends of their wings.
The birds spend winter out at sea in the Atlantic and only come ashore in the spring and summer to nest and breed on cliff faces and other high places. The marines were asked to scale the cliffs and install the camera by the Eco-watch conservationist group.
They abseiled down the cliff to install it with guidance from the RSPB so as not to disturb any nests. The marines say the abseiling event will have a double benefit. Warrant Officer Ed Stout said: "We understand we have an environmental responsibility. The kittiwake is quite a rare bird and I believe this is the largest colony in Britain. "We're very happy to help do this and for us it's useful training." As well as being seen on the web, live images from the £17,000 project will also be relayed to the nearby Devon Cliffs holiday camp, which is already involved in several local wildlife programmes.
The Eco-watch webcam isn't yet live, so watch this space and once it is live, we hope to bring you a link to the images.
Article published: Saturday 23rd April 2005.
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