THE UK POPULATION of the Great Skua, or Bonxie, is estimated to be close to 9,600 pairs. This may not sound a huge amount, but when you consider that the global population of this European species is only 16,000 pairs, you can see that our islands are the most significant breeding grounds of this spectacular seabird in the world.
The Great Skua has a nasty reputation. This is based on a few things. Firstly, they look like big, brown, mean-looking gulls and have the power and speed in their long wings to back up their appearance. Secondly, their feeding habits, which mix carrion feeding, killing other birds and chasing other seabirds to make them sick up their lunch, before eating that lunch. Thirdly, in some colonies, they, like other skuas,…