Sean Morris

Reserve Support – Isle of Rum

I’m lucky enough to live and work on one of the most amazing places in the UK – if not the world – Rum National Nature Reserve.

When my job became available, I was actually already living and working on Rum as a Research Assistant with Cambridge University. Now my job includes anything from bird monitoring to livestock management, or forestry and fencing to pier duty at the ferry terminal. Rum’s a small remote community. So I have to get involved in on the spot problem solving and repairs too – if a water main bursts or a drain needs unblocked, I can’t just call in a plumber!

Living and working here can be challenging – and let’s face it, the working conditions sometimes leave a lot to be desired. The terrain is rugged and remote, the weather often very wet and windy, and the ferry is frequently cancelled in the winter. But I’ve been here for 14 years now, so that shows you how much I love it. I’m a professional, skilled upland field ornithologist – and a bird ringer – and I’m really proud of my long term monitoring of our eagle population. I know fourteen years’ continuous data collection makes a huge difference to how we can support these birds and there natural habitat.