Instant success! We are pleased to be able to say that
our new tern raft that was installed on the pool at Wheldrake Ings in early
May, currently has a pair of Common Terns with two chicks.
Many thanks to everyone involved in the kind donation, purchase and
installation of the rafts, especially the team from Green Future Building, for
the brilliant design with the high transparent sides – thus keeping it otter and
mink proof. Upon news of the two chicks, we waded out to the raft the next day
with a ‘shelter’ – a wooden structure that the chicks can hide under from
predatory crows, the heat from the sun, or the heavy rain like that of recent days.
Common Terns appear on spring passage most years, and in recent years have bred on adjacent sites including Elvington Water Treatment works, Allerthorpe Lakeland Park, Raker Lakes and at the University of York Campus. However, this will represent the first successful breeding on the reserve, and will hopefully be the start of an increasing population, which is great news for the terns, as well for our visitors that are able enjoy them.
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