Giant new nesting structures have been unveiled as part of a "first of its kind" project in Lowestoft.
Work has been completed off South Beach to construct two new artificial nesting structures for "vulnerable seabirds" after energy giant Ørsted developed the first nearshore kittiwake ‘hotels’.
The industry first works were carried out as part of a compensation scheme associated with the Hornsea Three wind farm - which will comprise up to 231 offshore wind turbines about 120km off the Norfolk coast and is expected to be commissioned in 2027.
After Ørsted commissioned three nearshore artificial nesting structures (ANS) specially designed to house black-legged kittiwakes off the East Suffolk coastline, it has seen two new structures unveiled "one kilometre from the shoreline of South Beach in Lowestoft", between the town's two piers, and one close to the Minsmere Nature Reserve.
With the innovative designs developed by a team of ornithologists, architects, ecologists and engineers, the structures have narrow ledges and vertical sides to mimic the cliffs on which the kittiwakes normally nest.
Each ANS comprises an octagonal topside with capacity for around 500 breeding pairs of kittiwake supported above the water on a single monopile.
Individual nesting spaces are fitted with a sliding Perspex panel which will allow researchers to view the kittiwake from inside the structures without the birds being able to see them.
Two cameras have been installed on each ANS, with Ørsted continuing to monitor the existing colonies in Lowestoft and Sizewell for the lifetime of the ANS.
It comes after a unique new 'hotel' was unveiled in March - for around 430 pairs of seabirds - as Vattenfall and ScottishPower Renewables completed construction of kittiwake nesting structures in the port of Lowestoft.
Ørsted also provided £50,000 of funding to the Lowestoft Kittiwake Partnership.
Eleni Antoniou, Environmental Manager at Ørsted, said: "The provision of these structures will provide a safe, nesting space.
"This is a first of its kind project that required a great deal of collaborative work.
"We have already had our first kittiwake visitor to the structures and look forward to seeing our first long-term residents."
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