Media release issued by the RSPB, reporting on joint work by Natural England [see note 1], Great Yarmouth Borough Council and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

17 October 2006

Best Ever Season For Yarmouth Little Terns Confirmed

The final tally for young little terns flying from the little tern colony at North Denes beach, Great Yarmouth shows that it was their best ever nesting season.

The count of 673 fledglings – young birds that successfully flew – was the highest number in 21 years of the protection scheme for one of Britain’s scarcest seabirds. It follows a record count of 369 little tern nests here this year – making this one of the biggest colonies in Europe.

C Gomersall RSPB

Nature had a helping hand from the RSPB, Natural England and Great Yarmouth Borough Council, whose joint project protected the little terns from disturbance and predation.

This year, Great Yarmouth Borough Council gave permission for the fence surrounding the colony to be extended to give a bigger disturbance-free area for the breeding birds on this busy beach. The beach was in excellent condition – plenty of sand and shingle and high enough so high tides reached only a few nests – and there was an adequate supply of fish offshore.

The high numbers were at least partly a result of young birds returning from the excellent breeding season at Winterton Dunes National Nature Reserve in 2003. The chicks hatched together instead of spread out over time like last year, improving their odds against predators.

Twenty-four hour protection by RSPB wardens and volunteers warded off cats, foxes, hedgehogs and even a hare. Kestrels hunted only occasionally at the colony this year. This may be because a local pair of kestrels was supplied with alternative food to divert them from catching tern chicks. This work is part of a study into the wide range of factors affecting the number of young terns produced.

Mark Smart, site manager of the RSPB’s Berney Marshes nature reserve and little tern project manager said, “Naturally we are absolutely delighted that the little terns had a successful breeding season. Little terns are vulnerable, ground-nesting birds and they will always have their ups and downs. So years like this are a great boost for the population making up for years when, inevitably, they have a poor breeding season in the future.”

Mark Smart continued: “It was hard work for the team – especially the all night watches – but so rewarding. It was stunning to see the flock of several hundred young birds on the beach and now I can picture them as they make their way to the west coast of Africa for the winter.”

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