FLI designs, manufactures and installs kittiwake nesting towers as compensation structures for offshore wind developments. Designed in partnership with Shoney Wind and global Kittiwake research projects, these relocatable habitats meet IROPI requirements. Our off-the-shelf kittiwakery tower is the culmination of years of research and delivers proven performance.
Offshore wind farm projects are required to offset the predicted collision mortality of kittiwakes from turbines to comply with the Habitats Directive (IROPI rules). Onshore nesting structures are a preferred compensation measure, and FLI has worked with global authorities in the field to develop an off-the-shelf compensation tower system known as the kittiwake nesting tower, or ‘kittiwakery’, to meet the needs of the industry.
IROPI compliance specialists Shoney Wind Limited (SWL) produced a design brief through consultation with the Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation (ISRC) and EcoNort. SWL then brought in FLI as design engineers to develop, manufacture and install kittiwake nesting towers.
FLI and SWL were supported by the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) in developing a prototype in mid-2022. The first in-service tower was built for RWE at Gateshead in early 2023, demonstrating rapid progression from prototype to operational asset with all stakeholder feedback incorporated.
This multi-disciplinary collaboration has delivered a high-functioning, economically viable solution that meets the need for provable compensation for offshore wind.
Research carried out by SWL and the ISRC has produced a set of site selection, survey and micro-climate protocols that significantly improve colonisation and fledging rates.
Full access for ornithologists to the nesting modules is via the stairwell, meaning no rope access or elevated platforms are required. Hatches, windows and apertures allow safe monitoring, biometrics, ringing and supplementary feeding at scale from within the kittiwake nesting tower.
The design enables the experimental and developmental changing out of ledge types and sizes from inside the tower, with hand tools, to establish the impact on nesting of various configurations. Any under-performing faces can be altered at minimal cost, to improve fledging success.
Towers are secure from land-based predators and unauthorised access.
Additional capacity can be added to the existing structure via additional levels of nesting modules.
The towers, complete with their foundations, can be quickly and easily re-located if they are not colonised, removing investment risk.
The off-the-shelf system provides site-specific solutions with minimal design cost. Tower heights, capacities and a full range of nest ledge designs are already available.
Screw pile foundations eliminate the need for concrete, meaning:
Foundation installation typically takes one week, and the kittiwake nesting tower is erected in 2–3 weeks including nesting modules. Both the tower and its screw piles can be completely removed and fully recycled at end of life, which is another environmental benefit.
