Bass Rock with its castle walls and lighthouse covered in Gannets – credit CC Ben Clarke 4.0. BY-SA
Today’s Good news story comes from the Good News Network.
Family That Owned This ‘Wildlife Wonder of the World’ for 300 years Sells Bass Rock to Protect 100,000 Gannet Seabirds
A globally-important colony for seabirds has been sold to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to ensure the 100,000 gannets and 10,000 puffins that live there will benefit from top-notch conservation management.
Owned by the Scottish noble Dalrymple family for 320 years, Bass Rock and the neighboring uninhabited island of Craigleith have long been famous worldwide for the epic colony of gannets which nest there.
Located in the Firth of Forth, the gannets live among the remains of a 14th century castle and a 17th century prison dubbed “Scotland’s Alcatraz.” The ‘Rock’ has been a figure of inspiration in song and literature for generations.
Sir David Attenborough described it as one of the “12 wildlife wonders of the world.”
Today though, the royals have decided to call time on their stewardship of the island after rising numbers of Scottish seabird fatalities brought Sir Hew Dalrymple around to the idea that conservationists will be better able to protect the magnificent colony with unfettered management of the island.
“I made the decision to do this because of the risk these birds are now facing,” Sir Dalrymple told reporters from the island. “I thought an organization like the RSPB would be better equipped to protect the islands and their wildlife than a private individual.”
“Hence, we have been in discussions and I am glad to say, although with some emotional regret, they are now custodians of these two islands.”
The Dalrymple family had long collaborated with the Scottish Seabird Center to carry out conservation measures on Bass Rock, which The Scotsman credited with supporting the growth of the island’s puffin colony to 5-figure numbers, and with eliminating an invasive tree species.
However with a massive offshore wind farm being recently approved nearby that is estimated to have an impact on the gannet colony, the decision was made to sell.
RSPB bought the islands for around £449,906 ($680,000) with the help of the National Heritage Memorial and Lottery funds.
“For the Memorial Fund, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure the islands for the public and ensure that, with RSPB Scotland and the Scottish Seabird Centre at the helm, their role as seabird sanctuaries is protected for the future,” said Simon Thurley, chairman of both funds for the National Trust.
The good news in this story is that unselfish action took the place of tradition to the benefit of these birds. Today’s JohnKu talks about how nature’s benefit trumps saving family tradition. I hope you have a super weekend.
Royalty by John W. Howell © 2026
Royal tradition,
Gives way to good stewardship . . .
Of nature’s treasures.
Fiction Favorites 
Love that they realized others could do more for the birds and made the right decision.
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I liked that part too
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Wonderful news, John.
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I agree. Thanks, Pat.
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Thanks for sharing this story John and so pleased that the future of the inhabitants of these islands will get the protection they need..hugsx
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I am too. Especially with the hateful wind farms approaching.
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A wonderful good news story.
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Thank you, Darlene. I agree. 😊
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That is wonderful. I wonder how they are going to protect the birds from the wind farms, though.
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Maybe lobby to have them moved.
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Since they haven’t been installed yet, that could very well happen.
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I think the national trust will carry more weight than the family. Those wind farms are bird killers.
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Yeah. And ever since I watched “Landman”, my opinion of them is less enthusiastic…
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Thanks for another uplifting story, John. Have a great weekend!
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Thank you, Teri
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Have a super weekend as well
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After 300+ years, I can imagine the emotional regret, but they know they did the right thing. Very good news.
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It would be emotional and took a lot of thought. Thanks, Lois.
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Wonderful story of compassion and generosity. I guess l need to emerge from under my rock a little more often…l had to Google Bass Rock!🐳
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Well, now you know. I’m so glad to be able to foster new learning. 😀
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Three cheers for Sir Hew!!
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Found Sir Hew on LinkedIn, but he’s not active on it. Good story, John!
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Very nice! It’s good when egos give over to kindness.
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Let’s hope the RSPB can exert some influence on the development of the wind farms etc. and do a good job protecting the birds. But with the current government of England I doubt it. Wind farms are deadly to birds, bats, etc with devastating effects.
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It’s great that Dalrymple sold Bass Rock to conservationist to do good for the Gannet Seabirds, John. It’s sure good to learn that and read your great Johnku.
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A good decision to sell it
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Love this! Maybe the family can see this as a new family tradition.
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Now if only the United States royals would follow the same idea, and use their money to support wildlife! : )
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Great story, John. I hope Attenborough will make a film of it.
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