Islay Airport creates safe landing zone for Little Terns - NatureScot

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited staff have teamed up with conservation programme Species on the Edge to create safe nesting habitat for the rare Little Tern at Islay Airport.

Little Terns fly to Scotland in spring to breed, looking for beaches on the coast and islands where they can nest in colonies. Unfortunately, this chosen habitat of Little Terns is often prone to disturbance by humans, dogs, and flooding. Little Terns are very sensitive to disturbance and can abandon nests, eggs and chicks if disturbed.

The latest breeding seabird census (Seabirds Count: 2015-2021) shows that Little Tern have declined by 29% in the last 20 years in Scotland, with the Argyll and Bute region seeing a much larger decline of 46% in the same time period. Creating disturbance-free areas with suitable nesting material is one of the most important actions that can be taken to help protect Little Terns.

The Little Tern is one of 37 rare and vulnerable species being supported through the new, multi-partner conservation programme, Species on the Edge. The multi-million pound programme, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, is active across seven landscapes-scale areas in Scotland, working with local groups and communities to secure a future for Scotland’s most at-risk coastal species.

Staff from Species on the Edge, Islay Airport and RSPB have teamed up to create a ‘safe haven’ for Little Terns to rear their chicks. After a disused section of runway near the shore was identified as an ideal spot, local beach material and aggregate sourced by Islay airport and donated from local suppliers was spread across the area to create new Little Tern habitat.