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Little Tern Chicks Reach Record Numbers
2 Sep
Summary
- Nearly 150 little tern chicks successfully fledged this year.
- Beacon Lagoons hosted 116 breeding pairs, a significant increase.
- This site is crucial for the future of the endangered little tern.
Conservation efforts have resulted in a record number of chicks for an endangered seabird species. Nearly 150 little tern chicks have successfully fledged at Beacon Lagoons, located near Easington on the East Yorkshire coast.
This year marked the highest number of breeding pairs since the site's establishment 50 years ago, with 116 pairs recorded. This is a significant increase from just 59 pairs two years prior.
Conservation officer Mike Pilsworth expressed his amazement at the population's growth, noting the rarity of such success among many declining species. He emphasized Beacon Lagoons' importance as Yorkshire's sole little tern colony.
The little tern, the smallest tern species, is classified as endangered and is on the Amber List due to its nesting sites' vulnerability. These birds undertake a migration from West Africa each spring to nest on coastal sand and shingle.
