What is the current status of the Chesil Little Tern population?

The Chesil Little Tern population has seen a remarkable turnaround, with over 39 chicks fledging in 2022, a significant increase from just 3 the previous year.

How have conservation efforts impacted the Chesil Little Tern?

The collaborative conservation efforts led by the RSPB and local organizations have helped reverse the 39% decline in the Chesil Little Tern population since the 1980s, with the project recording 61 nests and an estimated 55 breeding pairs in 2022.

Home / Environment / Tiny Seabird Stages Remarkable Comeback on Chesil Beach

Tiny Seabird Stages Remarkable Comeback on Chesil Beach

Q: Where do the Chesil Little Terns migrate from?

The Chesil Little Terns migrate from West Africa each April to lay their eggs and raise their young on Chesil Beach in Dorset, as well as on Norfolk's beaches.

20 Oct

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Summary

Chesil Little Tern population surges to 39 chicks fledged in 2022
Last remaining colony of its kind in southwest England
Collaborative conservation efforts credited for upward trend since 2009

Tiny Seabird Stages Remarkable Comeback on Chesil Beach

In a heartening development for conservationists, the UK's smallest and most threatened seabird has experienced a remarkable breeding season on Chesil Beach in Dorset. According to the Chesil Little Tern Recovery Project, more than 39 chicks successfully fledged this summer, a substantial increase from just 3 the previous year.

The colony on Chesil Beach is the last of its kind in southwest England, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) had previously reported a 39% decline in the species' population since the 1980s. This was attributed to factors such as the loss of safe habitats. However, the collaborative conservation efforts led by the RSPB, in partnership with various local organizations, have now helped turn the tide.

The project recorded a total of 61 nests, with an estimated 55 breeding pairs. Volunteers noted that the well-camouflaged chicks may have even fledged in greater numbers without being noticed. The little tern, with its distinctive black cap, white forehead, and yellow bill with a black tip, weighs no more than a tennis ball at 40 to 60 grams. These tiny seabirds migrate from West Africa each April to lay their eggs and raise their young on Chesil Beach, as well as on Norfolk's beaches.