ARTIFICIAL FLOATING ISLAND FOR TERNS - MAZURY

The main objective of the project is to create a safe nesting site for river terns, a species that nests on islands with hard substrate. Such natural islands are now becoming overgrown by abandonment of their agricultural use. In the past, seasonal livestock grazing was carried out on Masurian lake islands. Now, through the cessation of such practices, the islands are becoming overgrown, resulting in their abandonment by terns.

Together with naturalists from PTOP, we decided to help the birds and create special platforms where, according to estimates, up to approx. 40 pairs of river terns. The artificial islands have been specially designed so that swimming predators, such as American mink, cannot get onto the platform. The rays will be pulled ashore for the winter period.

Two floating platforms have been launched on a post-gravel reservoir in Grzybiny, Mazury.

The large island (6x2.5m) was created with financial support from the Provincial Environmental Protection Fund in Olsztyn.