South Havra
| Shetland Islands | |
|---|---|
| OS Name: | South Havra |
| Shetland Name: | South Havra on old maps: Havera |
 | |
| UK Grid Reference: | HU360268 |
| Area (ha): | 59 |
| Population: | none depopulated since 1923 |
| Community Council: | |
| Ferry Services: | none |
| Notes: | |
South Havra is an uninhabited island off the west coast of south Mainland, about 2.0 km northwest of Maywick/Sandwick and about 1.2 km south of Point of Stakka on Houss Ness, East Burra or Grutness on Kettla Ness, West Burra.
The island is notable for the stone structure that was once the islanders' windmill. It was used for grinding grain on an island so small, and therefore lacking in watercourses, that no watermill of the kind seen elsewhere in Shetland could be constructed. The windmill was remarkable for having its rotation axis vertical rather than horizontal.
Young children on South Havera were tethered to prevent them falling over the cliffs.
The John and Mary wrecked on the isle in early 1774, as did the Louisa on March 29th 1903.
During their research Venables & Venables recorded the following species of birds breeding on South Havra in 1949.
Regular and common: Fulmar; Starling; Shag; Eider; Oyster Catcher; Lapwing; Ringed Plover; Common Gull; Herring Gull; Common Tern; Greater Black-backed Gull; Arctic Tern; Kittiwake; Black Guillemot; Rock Dove; Hooded Crow; Wren; Wheatear; Rock Pipit and Twite.
Known to have bred on South Havra previously but extinct by 1949: Corncrake and House Sparrow.
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