Calf of Man

From ManxWiki

The Calf as viewed from Spanish Head.

The Calf of Man (Manx: Cholloo) is a small island nature reserve and area of significant interest almost one square mile (2.6 km²) in area, off the south west coast. It is separated from the mainland by a narrow stretch of water called the Sound. The word 'calf' derives from the Old Norse word kalfr which means a small island lying near a larger one.

Prior to 1939 the island was under private ownership by the Keig family, but in that year the island was donated to the UK National Trust to become a bird sanctuary. In 1951 a Manx National Trust was established, which became Manx National Heritage to which ownership of The Calf was transferred in 1986.

1 Bird Observatory
2 Visiting the Calf
3 Lighthouses
4 Kitterland
5 Gallery
6 See Also
7 External links

Bird Observatory

The Bird Observatory on the Calf was established in 1959 and became an official British Bird Observatory in 1962. There are usually two wardens who live on the Calf from March to November each year keeping detailed records of migration and of the breeding birds which visit the Island

By the end of the year 2001 99,042 birds of 134 species had been ringed since the Observatory opened of which 11,280 have been traced along their migration routes by other bird observatories.

In 2006 MNH employed the charity Manx Wildlife Trust as the Calf Warden Service Provider.

Visiting the Calf

The Calf has been a bird observatory since 1962 and welcomes visits from volunteers and ornithologists. The observatory is able to accommodate up to eight visitors in basic self catering accommodation which can be booked through Manx National Heritage.

Day visitors can take boat trips from the harbours in Port St. Mary and Port Erin. Trips are subject to the weather and tide times.

The Calf has a number of inlets that have simple harbours with means to tie up boats.

Camping is not permitted on the Calf.

Lighthouses

Two lighthouses were built on the Calf in 1818 by Robert Stevenson to warn mariners of the hazards from the Chicken Rocks which are about a mile off the south end of the Calf. These were replaced in 1875 by a lighthouse built on the Chicken Rocks themselves.

Chicken Rocks are the most southerly part of the Isle of Man's territory.

In 1968, a third lighthouse was built on the Calf after a severe fire destroyed the Chicken Rocks light. The Chicken Rocks light was later rebuilt. In 2007 the Chicken Rocks lighthouse was upgraded with it's range extended from 12 to 21 miles. The upgrade was introduced on 13 June 2007. On 21st June 2007 the third lighthouse on the Calf was closed.

Kitterland

The rock located near the middle of the Sound is the islet of Kitterland which helps to cause the swirling currents that makes the Sound popular with kayakers.