Calf of Man is a 250 hectare island (almost 1 square mile), off the southwest coast of the
Isle of ManThe Isle of Man , or Mann , is a self-governing British Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Britain and Ireland. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Crown is represented by a Lieutenant Governor...
. It is separated from the Isle of Man by a narrow stretch of water called the
Calf SoundCalf Sound is a body of water which separates the Calf of Man island from the mainland of the Isle of Man. The sound - technically a strait - is about 700 metres in width, and contains the small islet of Kitterland .A visitor centre overlooking the Calf Sound holds multimedia exhibits giving...
. It has two seasonal inhabitants. The word 'calf' derives from the
Old NorseOld Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
word
kalfr which means a small island lying near a larger one.
Until 1939 the island was under private ownership by the Keig family, but in that year the island was donated to the
National TrustThe National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
to become a bird sanctuary.
Calf of Man is a 250 hectare island (almost 1 square mile), off the southwest coast of the
Isle of ManThe Isle of Man , or Mann , is a self-governing British Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Britain and Ireland. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Crown is represented by a Lieutenant Governor...
. It is separated from the Isle of Man by a narrow stretch of water called the
Calf SoundCalf Sound is a body of water which separates the Calf of Man island from the mainland of the Isle of Man. The sound - technically a strait - is about 700 metres in width, and contains the small islet of Kitterland .A visitor centre overlooking the Calf Sound holds multimedia exhibits giving...
. It has two seasonal inhabitants. The word 'calf' derives from the
Old NorseOld Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
word
kalfr which means a small island lying near a larger one.
Until 1939 the island was under private ownership by the Keig family, but in that year the island was donated to the
National TrustThe National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
to become a bird sanctuary. In 1951 the
Manx National TrustManx National Heritage is the national heritage organisation for the Isle of Man. It was established in 1951 as the Manx National Trust.-Overview:Manx National Heritage is responsible for:...
was established, which became Manx National Heritage. The Calf was transferred to the Manx body in 1986, following a campaign run by the
Celtic LeagueThe Celtic League is a political and cultural organisation in the modern Celtic nations of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man...
. The island has been a
bird observatoryA bird observatory is a centre for the study of bird migration and bird populations. They are usually focused on local birds, but may also include interest in far flung areas. Most bird observatories are small operations with a limited staff, many volunteers and a not-for-profit educational status...
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.
The Calf of Man currently boasts the world's highest density of lighthouses: two lighthouses were built in 1818 by
Robert StevensonRobert Stevenson was a Scottish civil engineer and famed designer and builder of lighthouses.-Early life:...
to warn mariners of the hazards of the
Chicken RockChicken Rock is the southernmost island administered by the Isle of Man. It lies to the southwest of the Calf of Man about three miles south-west of Spanish Head on the Manx mainland....
s off the south end of the Calf. These were replaced in 1875 by a lighthouse built on the Chicken Rocks themselves. In 1968, a third lighthouse was built on the Calf after a severe fire destroyed the Chicken Rocks light. The Chicken Rocks lighthouse was later rebuilt.
In 2006 Manx National Heritage employed the charity Manx Wildlife Trust as the Calf Warden Service Provider. Ownership remains with MNH.
Between the Isle of Man and the Calf is the islet of
KitterlandKitterland is an islet between the Isle of Man and the Calf of Man in the Irish Sea. Kitterland is currently owned by the Manx National Trust and has a wealth of bird and marine wildlife. Kitterland has a human population of zero and is in the parish of Rushen...
, while the islets of and The Stack lie close to the Calf's shore. Almost a mile southwest of the Calf is Chicken Rock, the most southerly part of the Isle of Man's territory.
Calf of Man is home to a breeding population of
Manx ShearwaterThe Manx Shearwater is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx Shearwaters were called Manks Puffins in the 17th Century. Puffin is an Anglo-Norman word for the cured carcasses of nestling shearwaters...
s, a seabird which derives its name from its presence in Manx waters.
External links