New raft helps to keep threatened bird population afloat
A threatened species of seabird has been thrown a lifeline at Montrose Basin with the launch of a specially designed nesting raft.
Dubbed the ‘Maid of Sterna Stuff III’, the raft is moored within the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s wildlife reserve to provide nesting habitat for over 100 common terns.
Scotland’s seabirds face numerous threats, including climate change and overfishing, while in recent years they have suffered further declines as a result of bird flu. No terns bred on the reserve’s previous raft in 2021 or 2022, however their numbers have climbed steadily since, and in 2025, around 140 chicks fledged as the species continues its recovery from the devastating disease.
The new raft’s features will support the terns throughout the breeding season. A thick bed of shingle will provide insulation for eggs and a drainage system will remove rainwater to prevent them from chilling. Sturdy shelters made from ventilation bricks offer protection from aerial predators and severe weather, while a mesh barrier will prevent chicks running off the raft if alarmed.
The Trust anticipates that, with regular maintenance, the raft will last for approximately 20 years.
Richard Averiss, SWT ranger, said: “Despite their name, common terns are not as common as they once were and face a myriad of threats. As ground nesting birds, their eggs are often at risk of predation, but the new raft will give them a safe place to breed and raise their chicks. As with previous rafts, it may take the terns a little time to get used to the Maid of Sterna Stuff III, but once they’re familiar, we look forward to many years of successful breeding.”
Richard added: “We expect the terns to return to the reserve from their wintering grounds in Africa over the next month or so and, once they do, the raft will provide a real win-win for wildlife and people. The birds will have somewhere safe to nest and visitors can watch these beautiful birds while enjoying a hot drink from the comfort of the visitor centre.”
The raft has been funded jointly through Angus Council’s Edinburgh Process strand of the Nature Restoration Fund, Scottish Landfill Communities Fund, Graham and Henrietta Somervell's Wildlife Trust and Angus and Dundee and North Angus SWTrust local groups.