Sandwich Terns have best breeding season for decades at Scottish reserve
More than 1,100 Sandwich Tern chicks fledged at Forvie National Nature Reserve on Scotland's east coast, this summer.
A standout year for seabirds
NatureScot is reporting exceptional breeding success for Sandwich Terns at Forvie National Nature Reserve, with peak counts of fledged young reaching heights not seen in decades. The results offer a rare piece of good news for coastal bird conservation after recent challenges faced by seabird colonies.
The peak count of 1,102 fledged Sandwich Tern young at Forvie this season was not only the highest recorded at the reserve since at least the mid-1980s, but a remarkable turnaround after colonies were devastated by avian influenza just two years ago. The site regularly supports up to 10% of the UK’s breeding population of this species, making its productivity especially significant for national numbers.
Protection and monitoring make a difference
Each year, staff and volunteers at the reserve erect a protective enclosure on the south of Forvie to shield tern and other seabird nests from disturbance and predation. This year’s effort with fencing, monitoring and visitor cooperation appears to have paid off, delivering strong outcomes not only for Sandwich Terns but other species as well.
NatureScot’s Reserve Manager, Catriona Reid, highlighted the scale of this year’s success, noting that it was rare to see such positive results for seabirds given the multiple pressures they now face along the coastline. She also emphasised the importance of respectful behaviour by visitors during the breeding season in helping achieve these outcomes.
Strong results across species
In addition to Sandwich Terns, the reserve recorded encouraging outcomes for other tern species. A mixed colony of Arctic and Common Terns fledged at least 272 young, while nine pairs of Little Terns produced at least 11 fledged juveniles – one of the better productivity rates for that species in recent years.
Forvie also experienced a record year for ringing, with more than 1,000 young Sandwich Terns ringed. This represents a substantial proportion of all Sandwich Tern chicks ringed in the UK in a single season and will help improve understanding of movements and survival in future years.
A reminder of what careful management can achieve
The success at Forvie this year underlines the value of active protection and long-term site management for ground-nesting seabirds. After losses caused by disease in recent seasons, this exceptional breeding outcome offers encouragement for continued conservation efforts along Scotland’s coasts.
December 2025
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