Threatened seabirds given lifeline at Montrose Basin - Scottish Wildlife Trust

A specially designed raft has been launched on the east coast of Scotland to create new homes for vulnerable seabirds.

Dubbed the “Maid of Sterna Stuff III”, the raft is moored within the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Montrose Basin Wildlife Reserve and will provide nesting habitat for over 100 common terns.

Scotland’s seabirds face numerous threats, including from climate change and overfishing, while in recent years they have suffered further declines as a result of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (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 is well equipped with features to 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 will 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, Angus Ranger, Scottish Wildlife Trust, 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.”