Home / Environment / Seabirds Get New Floating Home in Yorkshire
Seabirds Get New Floating Home in Yorkshire
4 Apr
Summary
- A new nesting pontoon will be built for common terns.
- The pontoon replaces smaller rafts, offering better protection.
- Timing is crucial for terns to claim the space first.
An RSPB reserve is set to construct a "beach-style" nesting pontoon for common terns, a species that breeds at the St Aidan's nature park near Castleford. These birds migrate from Africa each year for the British summer.
The wildlife charity has secured funding for this new habitat, which will replace smaller wooden rafts previously used for nesting. Common terns are nicknamed "sea swallows" for their size and distinctive forked tail. They prefer nesting on shingle beaches surrounded by water and away from ground predators.
These birds are currently classified as amber-listed, facing moderate conservation concern due to significant population declines over the past 40 years. The new artificial raft is designed to offer a safer environment, allowing the terns to settle together.
It will also help reduce competition for nesting space with larger black-headed gulls, which share a preference for the same habitat. The pontoon's installation is timed to coincide with the common terns' return from mid-April, ensuring they can establish nests before other birds do.
