Black-Throated Diver Welfare in Scottish Lochs

The black-throated diver breeds on Scottish highland lochs and is one of Britains rarest breeding birds. Disturbance, water level changes, and predation threaten welfare.

Key Facts

Fewer than 250 pairs of black-throated divers breed in Scotland
They nest on loch islands or floating rafts very close to the water edge
Nest flooding from water level changes during incubation destroys clutches
Recreational disturbance by canoeists and anglers causes nest abandonment
Artificial floating nest rafts provided by RSPB have significantly improved breeding success

Welfare Considerations

Black-throated diver welfare is threatened primarily by nest disturbance and flooding. Their nest sites at the water edge on loch islands make them highly vulnerable to recreational disturbance by boats and canoes, with adults flushed from nests allowing eggs to chill rapidly in cold Scottish weather. RSPB floating raft programmes provide nest sites protected from water level fluctuation and positioned away from boat traffic, dramatically improving breeding success and reducing the welfare cost of repeated nest failure.

What You Can Do

Maintain required exclusion distances from black-throated diver nests on Scottish lochs
Support RSPB floating raft provision for black-throated divers in Highland Scotland
Donate to RSPB Scotland for black-throated diver nest monitoring and protection
Participate in rare breeding bird surveys monitoring diver breeding outcomes