Click to see the video of a rather cute chick!
© Steve Laycock
Early in 2026 with funding from South East Water, we fitted a total of 249 individual artificial nest cups across 79 locations in north and east Hampshire. Many properties were provided with four nest cups (e.g. two doubles).
This map shows the location of the nest cups (black markers) and the 11 locations where a total of 27 nest cups were occupied in 2026.
Artificial nest cups may be most often used by young birds returning from Africa in spring after first seeing them as recent fledglings. This means that we can expect greater uptake in 2027 and beyond.
As more nest cups are fitted and as more are used (and left empty), we hope to be able to identify factors that affect the birds' choice of nest cups. After the first year it is already clear that nest cups that are very close to existing colonies are more likely to be used than those that are more isolated.
