Photo by ©Dave Palmar/RSPB
Loch of Spiggie is an important site for both sea birds and inland nesting species due to its geographical location. The shallow loch was formed when the sea voe was cut off by the formation of a sand bar. It is an important area for both Arctic and Common terns, but due to the damage caused by the sea, breeding habitat is consistently lost.
This project enabled RSPB Scotland to install an all important tern raft to support nesting birds at the RSPB Loch of Spiggie nature reserve. Lochs Spiggie and Brow are a sweeping stretch of Shetland water, with birdlife to see all year round. In autumn and winter, it’s wildfowl season with vast flocks of Whooper Swans, Teal and Wigeons using the lochs. In spring and summer Arctic Terns, Great Skuas, Tufted Ducks and Mallards gather on the loch. Arctic and Common terns have been using the rafts to breedand the RSPB has logged 24 Arctic terns and 8 Common terns in 2024 and 36 Arctic terns and 4 Common terns in 2023.
The interpretation about the rafts in the hide has been well received especially at the busy RSPB Spiggie open days prompting many conversations about the rafts, disturbance of terns and their threats – the educational part of the project.
In 2021 SMEEF was able to provide a grant of £29,277 to support this work using resources from the Nature Restoration Fund.