Storm Geese Wild

Through the brooding sky and over the furious sea they come.

Just when the great winter storms crash against the shore, they arrive.

Silhouettes amongst the clouds,

like angels.

First, a few, struggling against the North Wind.

Then, more and more, skein after skein,

until the sky is full of thousands of them.

The storm geese come to the Scottish island of Islay,

one of the Hebrides,

the chain of islands which lie along Scotland's western coast.

It's a wild and rugged place, with great natural beauty.

And, until the autumn,

there's no sign that it will host a spectacular invasion

of thousands of geese.

It's mainly barnacle geese that come,

valiant birds who migrate here on an epic journey of 2,000 miles

over the wild North Atlantic.

They'll stay until spring,

when warm weather signals it's time

to return to their distant summer nesting grounds.

Until the 19th century, no-one knew where they went.

It was a mystery.

Then, they were discovered breeding in Greenland,

where they feast on grass in Arctic meadows during brief northern summer.

The big winter freeze would mean starvation.

So, when autumn comes, they all have to fly south...

no matter what.

As the wild storms lash against Islay's shores, at the dark end of the year, they come.

More than 40,000 of them,

70% of Greenland's entire population.

Why should so many birds choose one particular island as their winter home?

Islay is a special place,

world famous for its whisky.

But not quite so well known for its rather unexpected climate.

The island is the most southern of the Scottish Hebrides

and although its Atlantic location means it is lashed by winter storms,

it also gets bathed by the warming waters of the Gulf Stream.

Islay enjoys more sunshine than most of mainland Britain.

And even in winter,

frosts and snow are rare.

But it's not just the balmy temperatures that pull in the crowds.

Even in the depths of winter, parts of Islay have an emerald glow.

The beautiful colour of the living, growing grass.

The gentle climate means that it can pretty much grow all year round

and lots of grass means lots of food for grazers.

Islay has even more attractions for feathered Arctic visitors.

Not only does it provide very good food,

it also boasts luxury accommodation.

Two large and shallow sea lochs -

the barnacle goose equivalent of five-star hotels.

Safe and muddy dormitories where the flocks can relax and roost safely.

Geese don't mind wet feet on wintry nights,

whereas predators, like foxes, do.

Away from the fields and mudflats,

life isn't quite so easy for other wildlife.

Red deer stags are trying to fatten up after the rut.

Though their mating season is over,

some hotheads still forgo feeding to lock horns with each other.

But, for the wild geese, the struggles are over.

They have found a safe sanctuary...

along with other birds, like families of mute swans.

And flocks of whooper swans too.

The miracle of the geese is not just their epic migration,

it's the fact that there are now probably

more barnacle geese alive today than ever before.

They are protected

and have learned to graze our crops and fields.

That doesn't always make them popular.

But on Islay, everyone is aware of how important their island is

for these creatures, and for the transformation that they bring.

Last year, 18,000 arrived on the same day.

So how do you know when they'll come?

At the end of autumn, when the North Wind blows,

look out at the stormy sea...

and wait for angels.

Subtitles by Roger Young Red Bee Media Ltd - 2005

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