Editing Switha (section)

==Wildlife==
Switha is very important for wildlife and has been designated both as a Site of Special Scientific Interest ([[SSSI]])<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/1702 | title=SSSI details |publisher=[[Scottish Natural Heritage]] | accessdate=7 November 2018}}</ref> and an EU [[Special Protection Area]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1933 | title=JNCC SPA report on Switha. | accessdate=6 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/SPA/UK9002891.pdf | title=JNCC SPA standard data form for Switha | accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref> The primary reason for this is the wintering population of Greenland [[barnacle goose]]. About 1000 of the birds are thought to spend the winter months roosting on the island and feeding on nearby South Walls.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thesoc.myzen.co.uk/docs/scottish-birds/sb-vol29-no02.pdf#page=5 | title=Greenland Barnacle Geese in Scotland in 2008 | accessdate=4 February 2014}}</ref> This population is not only the most northerly in the UK but also the third largest after [[Islay]] and [[North Uist]]. Common seabirds known to frequent the rocky coast line include [[black guillemot]], [[great black-backed gull]], [[Arctic skua]] and [[great skua]]. In addition, Haswell-Smith records that there are many [[European storm petrel]] burrows. However, several surveys since the late 1960s have only revealed a small number of pairs on the island, probably never more than 10.<ref name="JNCC report on European Storm Petrel distribution">{{cite web | url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/PDF/S2000_03_spet_tabs_and_figs_web.pdf | title=JNCC report on European Storm Petrel distribution | accessdate=4 February 2014}}</ref> The burrows are probably more likely to belong to the [[puffin]], which are reported to be resident on the island in some numbers, with about 250 pairs.<ref>Harris, Mike, "The Puffin" in Harris, Mike (2011) p. 49</ref>