Wild Red-Throated Diver Breeding Welfare

Red-throated divers breed on small upland lochs in Scotland and require undisturbed, fish-rich water bodies free from recreational disturbance during the sensitive breeding season.

Key Facts

Red-throated divers breed on small, shallow lochs often lacking fish, flying to larger lochs to feed
UK breeding population is around 1,200 pairs, entirely in Scotland
Disturbance causing nest abandonment is the primary human-caused welfare threat
Boats and anglers on breeding lochs cause repeated flight responses from nesting birds

Welfare Considerations

Red-throated divers disturbed on breeding lochs abandon eggs during cold weather, causing embryo death. Adults that must repeatedly leave nests experience stress and reduced incubation efficiency. As a species with low reproductive rate (typically one chick per year), disturbance that reduces breeding success has disproportionate population-level effects. Individual nest failures due to disturbance represent significant individual welfare costs to birds that may live 25+ years.

What You Can Do

Keep at least 200 metres distance from divers on breeding lochs
Avoid landing kayaks or canoes on small upland lochs during May to August
Report diver disturbance near nests to RSPB Scotland
Support SNH and RSPB access management schemes around key diver breeding areas