10th October 2013
An initiative to boost the little tern population on Chesil Beach has been hailed a “huge success”.
The birds – which migrate from West Africa and nest on the Chesil Beach stones – have been in decline in recent years and were once thought to be heading for extinction in the area.
But action by the RSPB has reversed the trend leading to a rise in the number of breeding pairs on the beach.
The RSPB teamed up with volunteers, landowners and other agencies in 2009 to create fenced-off areas with on-site site wardens to protect the birds’ nests – which consist simply of shallow depressions in the pebble surface vulnerable to predators and accidental disturbance.
This summer a further initiative aimed to protect eggs from the effects of cold by creating areas of sand where birds could nest.
The RSPB’s Tony Whitehead said there was no doubt these initiatives are responsible for seeing the number of nesting pairs rise to 25 this summer, up from 21 last year and 18 in 2011, and chick survival rates at their highest levels in decades.
He said: “There is no doubt it has been a huge success. At one point the species was heading for extinction in the South West and if we hadn’t acted they would have been lost to Chesil.
“This is of great significance not just to the South West but the whole of the UK – Chesil Beach can represent 10 per cent of the UK population of little terns.”
The rise in successful breeding pairs on the beach – which one summer saw no chicks at all survive – cannot be put down to random variation or natural envir- onmental changes, according to Mr Whitehead.
He said: “There were two things that really mattered. Firstly the fenced area and site warden protected the nests from predators and disturbance.
“But creating sandy areas for the birds has made a real difference too.
“Given the opportunity to nest on sand, the terns will do so – as they do in [RSPB-managed little tern colony in] Great Yarmouth.
“Because the eggs are better insulated, more chicks survive.”
Mr Whitehead added: “What’s really heartening is that these migrating birds have come thousands of miles from West Africa to this country.
“It’s nice to think that when they get to Dorset they have a good home waiting for them.”
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Article source: http://www.viewfrompublishing.co.uk/news_view/28559/7/1/bridport-boost-for-little-terns-on-chesil