Companies taking part in the Challenge have employed a number of conservation initiatives to attract breeding birds to their sites. Many have been rewarded this year, with species breeding on sites for the first time.

Sand Martins provided the first sign of spring for most Challenge sites. Preparation work was undertaken prior to their arrival, with the construction of artificial sand banks at Rutland Water, Rutland, and the pre-drilling of holes at Horton Quarry, North Yorks, to encourage the birds to a part of the quarry where disturbance would be minimised. The species has also colonised Gypsum stockpiles at Cottam Power Station, Notts, and Pembroke Refinery, Pembrokeshire. Many other Challenge sites managed their landholdings specifically for this amber-listed species of conservation concern.

The rare Black Redstart favours coastal power stations. (Photo: Tommy Holden/BTO)

This year, Peregrines have successfully reared broods at power stations at Torness, East Lothian, and Fawley, Hants. Staff kept a watchful eye on the chicks via a webcam specifically set up to monitor progress. Coastal power stations are also favoured by the rare Black Redstart (of which there are approximately 100 pairs in Britain) including Dungeness, Kent, and Sizewell, Suffolk.

Ongoing restoration of the ash disposal mounds at Gale Common, Yorkshire, to low-fertility grassland has seen an increase in the number of Skylark (a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species) and Meadow Pipit territories on the open hilltops.

In addition, Pied Wagtails took up residence in a ‘mobile home’ at Arpley landfill site, Cheshire. The first staff knew about it was when the two birds were seen regularly following one of the site’s tractors. Further investigation found that the Wagtails were trying to feed four chicks under the vehicle’s cab. The tractor was parked in a safe place until the juvenile birds had fledged.

Kate Aldridge, BTO Challenge Organiser, said: “It is superb to see all the Challenge companies actively providing breeding habitat for some of Britain’s most vulnerable birds. Nesting birds can cause an immense amount of disruption to the running of industrial sites. However, our Challenge sites have put enormous effort into planning and preparing for the breeding season. It is terrific for them to be rewarded with such success.”