🧭 Fife Leads Scotland with Pioneering Bird Tracking

Good morning, Fifers!

Here’s what’s coming your way today:

• East Neuk Project Tracks Bird Migration Secrets

• 29 Events to See This Week

Let’s jump in, there’s plenty to talk about!

— Duncan

TODAY’S TOP STORY

🐦 East Neuk Project Tracks Bird Migration Secrets

A new bird tracking project, a partnership between the SOC and Tay Ringing Group, has launched in the East Neuk to help scientists unlock the mysteries of bird migration using cutting-edge technology. The project uses a global network of receivers which detect birds fitted with tiny trackers called Motus tags.

The study focuses on Rock Pipits, small songbirds commonly found along Scotland's rocky coastlines, to better understand their local movements and migratory patterns. Two Rock Pipits have been tagged at Crail so far, making them the first birds ever fitted with Motus tags in Scotland. Each tag weighs just 0.3g (less than a paperclip) and sends out a unique signal that can be detected by receivers up to 10km away, allowing individual birds to be tracked remotely in near real-time.

While Rock Pipits that breed in Scotland can be seen year-round, winter numbers swell as migrants arrive from Scandinavia. The Motus system promises to reveal new insights into these migratory journeys that traditional bird ringing alone cannot provide.

The project has already delivered results with one of the three receivers set up in Fife, detecting the first foreign Motus-tagged bird ever recorded in Scotland, a Blackbird that travelled over 500km in a single night from Norway to reach Fife.

All Motus data is freely accessible for research, conservation and education, with interactive maps available at motus.org.

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🌱 First Minister John Swinney praised EATS Rosyth community garden during a visit, highlighting its mental health benefits and confirming £3m additional government funding for similar projects.

• 🚧 Aberdour Community Council confirmed Silver Sands improvement works will resume in January, including road resurfacing, footway and boardwalk construction, EV charging points, accessible ramps, and upgraded facilities, with temporary closures in place during key phases.

• 🎓 Fife Council is inviting school leavers to apply for a wide range of jobs, apprenticeships and traineeships, as new figures show 94.1% of young people in Fife achieved a positive destination this year, the highest level in six years and above the national average.

• 🎄 Fife Council has apologised after Cardenden residents raised concerns over reduced Christmas lights this year, blaming safety issues with new lighting poles and promising a review for future festivities.

• 🩺 The Courier has revealed that over 35,000 people are waiting for treatment in Fife, with some waiting for over 800 days.

• 🤝 Fife Council’s Communities and Neighbourhoods Service celebrated a record-breaking year in 2025, welcoming over 120 new volunteers and renewing Investing in Volunteers accreditation.

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

Please remember to double-check details with venues before travelling, as events can occasionally be cancelled or rescheduled at short notice, and some will require prebooked tickets.

📅 Tuesday, 30th December

Aladdin: Unleash the Genie - Soar into a whole new world this Christmas with Aladdin, the spellbinding family pantomime.
📁 Panto | 🕢 1pm & 5pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £14+

Aladdin - Join Aladdin as he sets off on a bonkers Highland adventure in this Scottish take on the classic tale.
📁 Theatre | 🕢 2pm & 7pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £27+

Oor Wee Mammy McGoose - The Best Wee Panto in Scotland returns with a Brand Spanking New Production.
📁 Panto | 🕢 2:30pm & 7pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £14+

Red Hot Chilli Pipers 2025 - Bagpipes with attitude, drums with a scottish accent and a show so hot it carries its own health warning.
📁 Music | 🕢 3:30pm & 8pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £37

Sleigh 5k - Whether you run for cake or kudos, save this night in your diary. We are raising funds for three great Charities: Mind, Tommy’s, and NSPCC.
📁 Sport | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Promenade | 🎟️ £10+

📅 Wednesday, 31st December

Artie’s Singing Kettle: Hogmanay Party - Artie returns with his Singing Kettles for the family’s run-up to the New Year.
📁 Family | 🕢 11am | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £13

Aladdin - Join Aladdin as he sets off on a bonkers Highland adventure in this Scottish take on the classic tale.
📁 Theatre | 🕢 1pm & 5pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £27+

Oor Wee Mammy McGoose - The Best Wee Panto in Scotland returns with a Brand Spanking New Production.
📁 Panto | 🕢 2:30pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £14+

New Year’s Eve Party 2026 - Live Music from Marty McKay to start the party and performance from Fife based Scotia Pipers.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 5:30pm | 📍 Montagues, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £5

New Year's Party with Brian Lee - The studio new year party DJ Brian Lee Party Mix.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7pm | 📍 The Studio, Leven | 🎟️ £22.25

Hogmanay Party - Get ready to ring in the New Year with friends, fun, and fireworks at the ultimate Hogmanay Party!
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Amorist Hotel Restaurant & Bar, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £54.88

New Year’s Eve 2026 Party - Join us and the one and only Mikey Mohawk for a fun filled family night!
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Auchtertool Village Hall | 🎟️ £5+

New Year's Eve Ceilidh - Ceilidh and dancing to live band. Refreshments included in price. B.Y.O.B.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 8:30pm | 📍 Luthrie Village Hall | 🎟️ £20

NYE The Greatest Show with Jamie B, Nova Scotia and Mikey Mac - Join us for music, dancing, and a spectacular midnight countdown to 2026.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 9pm | 📍 The Venue, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £16.75

Alan Thomson’s Allstars - Classic Rock tracks that you can sing and dance along to.
📁 Music | 🕢 10pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £39.60

📅 Thursday, 1st January

RNLI Kinghorn Loony Dook New Year’s Dip 2026 - Bring in the New Year with a bracing dip in the Firth of Forth.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 10:15am | 📍 RNLI Kinghorn Lifeboat Station | 🎟️ Free

Alan Thomson’s Allstars - Classic Rock tracks that you can sing and dance along to.
📁 Music | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £30.80

📅 Friday, 2nd January

New Year's Beach Clean - We’ll be starting the New Year with what is becoming our traditional beach clean.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 St Bridget's Kirk, Dalgety Bay | 🎟️ Free

Aladdin - Join Aladdin as he sets off on a bonkers Highland adventure in this Scottish take on the classic tale.
📁 Theatre | 🕢 2pm & 7pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £27+

New Year Heritage Tour with Mulled Wine - Join us for a special edition of our popular Adam Smith Heritage Tour as we welcome the New Year in true Kirkcaldy style.
📁 Tour | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Adam Smith Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

Oor Wee Mammy McGoose - The Best Wee Panto in Scotland returns with a Brand Spanking New Production.
📁 Panto | 🕢 2:30pm & 7:30pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £14+

Stevie Agnew - Scottish rock vocalist and guitarist from Dunfermline.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

🎉 Multi-Day Events & Exhibitions

Collecting the Contemporary: Scottish Art at Kirkcaldy Galleries - This display features works by modern and contemporary painters who were inspired by Scotland.
📅 Fri, 31st January - Wed, 31st December | 🕢 10am | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Wonder Festival - Celebration of nature and the outdoors in the darkest time of the year.
📅 Fri, 2nd - Sun, 4th January | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Cambo Country House and Estate | 🎟️ Varies

Jack Vettriano Exhibition 2025 - Collection of Jack Vettriano prints, including rare and sold-out pieces.
📅 Tue, 4th March - Thu, 15th January 2026 | 🕢 10am | 📍 Affordable Arts, Methil | 🎟️ Free

From These Parts: Scotland, Art and Identity - Special preview evening filled with live music, drinks, and creative activities.
📅 Sat, 18th October - Sun, 15th February 2026 | 🕢 10am | 📍 Wardlaw Museum | 🎟️ Free

Paul McGinty: Beneath The Surface - This body of work represents elements of Paul McGinty's ongoing research into the history of the Coal Mining Industry in Fife.
📅 Thu, 8th January - Fri, 27th February | 🕢 10am-4pm (Thu & Fri) | 📍 Adam Smith Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

Unveiling the Madonna - Discover the story behind the Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist, the oldest painting in our art collection.
📅 Sat, 8th November - Sat, 7th March 2026 | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 St Andrews Museum | 🎟️ Free

Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict - Surprising connections between golf and conflict, including the impact on golfers and their equipment.
📅 Fri, 18th April - Tue, 31st March 2026 | 🕢 9:15am | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17.50

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THANKS FOR READING

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Cheers,

Duncan