The Tern Around Project

• The erection of fencing and signs to protect nesting areas.
• A dedicated team of staff and local volunteers monitor the nesting birds dat and night, and engage visitors to raise awareness.
• Diversionary feeding to guide predators such as Kestrel’s away from the colony.
• A community engagement programme to build links with parish councils, schools, local groups and businesses to develop a wider understanding about beach-nesting birds.

When you think of a bird’s nest, you probably picture it high up in a tree. However, Little Terns prefer to build their nests directly on sand and shingle beaches, relying on the excellent camouflage of their eggs and chicks to avoid detection.

This should be an effective tactic to keep them safe. But sadly, as more people head to the beach, the pebble-like camouflage of the eggs and young leaves them vulnerable to being trampled underfoot and harmed by inquisitive dogs.

Spooking incubating adults can also cause eggs and chicks to fail, as an adult Little Tern’s instinct is to flee when threatened. This leaves eggs and chicks more vulnerable to predators, cold temperatures and being smothered by sand.

Climate change is also having a significant impact on Little Terns. The coastal location of their nests leaves them at risk from rising sea levels and extreme flooding events which can wash nest sites away.

Meanwhile, warmer seas are changing the nutritional value and distribution of sandeels, the Little Tern’s preferred food, and rougher waters are making it harder for the birds to spot them. This makes it difficult for adult birds to provide enough food for their young.

Finally, human development and coastal erosion are reducing the availability of nesting sites. In fact, the UK has lost 46% of shingle habitats since 1945.

Collectively, these factors have greatly reduced the availability of safe, quiet nesting sites. With the Terns forced to nest in fewer, larger colonies, adults, chicks and eggs have become much more vulnerable to predation.

‘The sound of Little Terns heralds the start of summer for many of the team and local community. It’s been great to see the team grow over the past few years and help so many chicks to fly despite all the challenges the birds face.

Through the team’s amazing efforts, there is a glimmer of hope as the Little Tern and Ringed Plover numbers show early signs of recovery. The dynamic coast also now provides opportunities for birds to breed at multiple sites, including previous locations such as North Denes.

This is great for Little Terns but will make it challenging to protect all the birds where they nest. Support from local communities and our amazing volunteers will be critical to continue to build on the project’s successes.’

‘I have been a volunteer with the Little Tern off-reserve project in northeast Norfolk for the RSPB for the last 3 seasons. It has been very rewarding, both physically and mentally. To know we are helping our second-rarest seabird to survive and increase in numbers gives me and many others great satisfaction.’

For our canine companions, Little Tern colonies can prove to be an irresistible point of interest. If you’re visiting one of our beaches during the nesting season (March – August), please follow the guidance and keep your dog on a short lead.

Nesting Little Terns are sensitive to disturbance. They are also a Schedule 1 species, which means it is illegal to disturb them. Whether you’re walking your dog, watching the birds or there to sunbathe, always give fenced areas a wide berth.

Vital RSPB projects like the Tern Around Project rely on the support of our marvellous members and generous donors. If you’d like to help keep the Tern Around Project in the air, please consider donating today.

Fancy taking your tern to protect Little Terns? We’d love to hear from you! Simply contact the Tern Around Project at ternaround@rspb.org.uk.