One of UK’s rarest seabirds breeds in record numbers on North East coast
One of Britain’s rarest seabirds, which has been in decline since the 1960s, has bucked the wet summer trends and bred record numbers of chicks on the Durham and Cleveland coast, thanks in part to Natural England volunteers and the financial support of Able UK and Home Housing.
The 47 pairs of Little Terns that nest on the shore of Crimdon Dene at Teesmouth have produced around 105 young – around twice as many a usual – and experts think this year’s breeding success is unprecedented in Northern England.
The Little Terns seem to have benefited from the hard work and dedication of local people, volunteers from Natural England’s Dene Team based at Castle Eden Nature Reserve and the work of the Industry Nature Conservation Association (INCA).
Geoff Barber, senior conservation officer with INCA said: “These amazing little birds migrate all the way from West Africa and like to nest on the beach where they’re close to their food source of small fish. But Crimdon Dene mouth is perhaps not the best choice if you’re a Little Tern wanting a quiet, undisturbed place to raise young chicks; it’s a popular beach for holidaymakers and for locals to walk their dogs or have a jog – it might seem tranquil enough to us but all that human activity can be extremely stressful for breeding birds.”
Geoff thinks this year’s record number of fledged chicks is down to a number of factors: “They had a good start with a warm spring which produced masses of small fish, and despite the wet summer weather they’ve managed feed their young well, producing not just the usual one chick per nest but at least two very healthy young ones.”
The season hasn’t been without its setbacks though; back in June the first 15 clutches of eggs were taken by hedgehogs and it was looking as if Little Tern numbers might be heading for disaster.
But thanks to the hard work and vigilance of warden Trevor Stephenson and his team of volunteers, the birds have been able to thrive. The area has been fenced off to prevent further attacks from predators and signs ask the public to try to avoid the spot where the terns are nesting. Trevor also has a caravan parked close to the nest site so he can watch over the birds and their nests.
The local people have taken the Little Terns ‘under their wings’ and are very protective of the birds’ nest site, said Geoff: “Once or twice we’ve had ornithologists on the beach early in the morning to ring the chicks before they fledge, and locals have contacted the police as they’re worried that someone might be interfering with the nest site and the birds. It’s good to know that local people are keeping an eye on the terns and care about their welfare.”
Natural England’s Mike Leakey, site manager at Teesmouth National Nature Reserve, is delighted that organisations and individuals working in partnership with is having such enormous benefits for the local wildlife: “It just shows what can be achieved when everyone - businesses, conservationists, volunteers and people with a keen interest in the Little Terns - work together to ensure success.”
Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas.www.naturalengland.org.uk
Issued on behalf of Natural England by GNN North East. Tel: 0191 202 3607; Fax: 0191 202 3599; Email: elfrieda.waren@gnn.gsi.gov.uk