Editing Copinsay (section)

==History==
For many generations, prior to the final inhabitants moving to the Mainland in 1958, Copinsay was full of life. This is evidenced by the large two storey farmhouse, the Steading (or farm buildings) behind it for the farm tenants, a school with a schoolteacher, and up to three lighthouse keepers' families. There is also an ancient burial site on the island.

In the earlier part of the 20th century, a weekly postal service provided contact with the Mainland, and there were fortnightly shopping trips to [[Deerness]], allowing for weather.  The farm had working horses, cattle and sheep - all of which had to be transported on the "coo" or "cow" boat.  Bird's eggs provided a good supplement to the islanders' diet, and men were lowered over the cliffs on a special rope, or were rowed out to the Horse to bring back this addition. Pigs were loosed in the Spring on the Horse for many years, and they fed on the bird's eggs.

Many interesting facts and accounts of life on Copinsay are still retold in the Deerness Community, with many members still remembering when the island was still home to loved ones. Myths about the island include the story of the [[Copinsay Brownie]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/brownie.htm| title=Copinsay Brownie| access-date=2008-01-06}}</ref>

The island was bought by the ornithology charity [[RSPB]] in 1972 in memory of the naturalist [[James Fisher (naturalist)|James Fisher]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/c/copinsay/index.asp| title=Copinsay reserve| publisher=[[RSPB]]}}</ref>