If you were beginning to think we were only using the tern raft camera to video every species found on the Basin other than terns, here are a couple of videos to show we have caught some tern behaviour.

The first video is just some of the footage we caught this year and gives you a general overview of the tern raft itself, the basic interactions seen between individuals, and the type of weather conditions the terns find themselves facing over the breeding season (this year was lots of sun with strong winds).

The second video uses footage collected over the last three years and gives you a closer look at specific behaviour connected to breeding.  Look out for posturing with lowered wings and raised heads, calling, ritualised feeding, and nest inspection and scrapping.

As with many birds, the gracefulness seen in flight doesn’t quite translate to land, especially when it comes to nest scrapping.

In connection to another migratory bird that breeds at a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve, you can now track the latest osprey chick to hatch at Loch of the Lowes here.

Georgina Bowie (Visitor Centre Assistant)