CREATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ARTIFICIAL NESTING SITES FOR WETLAND BIRDS

Since 1963 about 270 islands and 40 rafts have been constructed and managed in Britain by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, mainly at its wetland reserves. These structures are primarily aimed at providing secure breeding sites for terns, waders, gulls, wildfowl and divers, including nine species of particular conservation importance in Britain. Use of islands and rafts by different breeding species is dependent upon their vegetation cover and geographical location. Bare shingle, or sparsely vegetated islands and rafts, attract the most breeding species in southern coastal locations (up to 20 species), including five species of conservation importance, namely Sandwich tern (Sterna sandvicensis), little tern (Sterna albifrons), avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and, occasionally, Mediterranean gull (Larus melaocephalus) and roseate tern (Sterna dougallii). Similar unvegetated or sparsely vegetated islands on the coast in the north, or inland in the north or south of Britain, support few breeding species, and none of conservation importance. The composition of the bird assemblage breeding on well-vegetated islands and rafts in Britain (up to 20 species) is less influenced by geographical location, but species of conservation importance such as pochard (Aytha ferina) are found mainly in the south, and common scoter (Melanitta nigra), red-throated diver (Gavia stellata) and black-throated diver (Gavia arctica) exclusively in Scotland. © 1992, Academic Press Limited. All rights reserved.