The Calf of Eday (; Two similar structures have been identified nearby along with various other ancient ruins. the remains of which can still be seen to the north of cairns.
Etymology
thumb|upright|left|[[Joan Blaeu|Johan Blaeu's 1654 map of Orkney and Shetland. Note that the "Calf of Heth Øy" has been transposed from its true position north east of Eday to the west.]]
The Norse gave animal names to some islands, especially to small islands alongside a larger one, other examples being the Calf of Man and the Horse of Copinsay. The islands name in Norse times was thus Kalfr.
In the 17th century Eday was also known as "Heth Øy" and the Calf's name is recorded by Blaeu as "Calf of Heth Øy".
Wildlife
The dominant vegetation on the island is dry dwarf-shrub heath dominated by heather (Calluna vulgaris), with smaller areas of wet heath, semi-improved grassland and coastal grassland. The Calf of Eday supports 32 species of breeding birds and is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for its importance as a nesting area. Gulls and cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) nest in the dry heath and grassland areas, whilst fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis), kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) and auks nest on the cliffs. The island has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports breeding seabirds.
See also
- Calf of Flotta
Notes
References
- Irvine, James M. (ed.) (2006) The Orkneys and Schetland in Blaeu's Atlas Novus of 1654. Ashtead. James M. Irvine.
- Noble, Gordon (2006) Neolithic Scotland: Timber, Stone, Earth and Fire. Edinburgh University Press.
- Waugh, Doreen, "On eið-names in Orkney and other North Atlantic islands" in Sheehan, John and Ó Corráin, Donnchadh (2010) The Viking Age: Ireland and the West. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Viking Congress. Dublin. Four Courts Press.