Manx BirdLife staff, volunteers, and contractors have added fantastic new nesting feature to the Point of Ayre National Reserve.
The artificial Sand Martin bank stands at 10m wide and two metres tall and is designed to provide a safe and reliable nesting site for the small migratory birds.
Currently sand martins on the Isle of Man nest in the working quarry near the reserve, but as the landscape changes, these sites become less dependable.
The charity said: “That’s where our new sand martin bank comes in! Designed to mimic natural sandbanks, it features a network of burrow-ready nesting chambers, allowing the birds to dig their own homes just as they would in the wild.
“Huge thanks must go to everyone who helped make this possible, Green Future Building – for designing and supplying the Sand Martin Bank, Island Aggregates Ltd – for supplying the sand, Co-op Community Fund – for funding the entire project, Pete from Island Contractors– for assisting with the installation and, of course, our incredible volunteers, whose dedication makes projects like this happen!”
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