On the coasts of Northumberland and Norfolk this spring and summer there was an unexpected stirring of life: tern colonies that had survived years of avian flu, floods and capricious weather are showing their first noticeable successes. According to the National Trust, at the Long Nanny site in Northumberland little terns have made a record nesting — no fewer than 126 pairs, twice the previous maximum of 1994. At least 82 chicks successfully fledged, and the final number may exceed a hundred.
Arctic terns at the same site also showed resilience: around 730 breeding pairs and 1346 eggs, slightly above last year's figures. In Norfolk, at Blakeney Point, after a two-year absence more than 1160 pairs of sandwich terns have returned. Growth has also been recorded among common terns, and black-headed gulls, whose presence scares off predators, have also increased in number.
The causes of the earlier decline are well known: outbreaks of avian flu devastated many colonies, while frequent storms and unpredictable tides destroyed nests on sand and shingle. Little terns are especially vulnerable — they nest right on the beaches, where the slightest disturbance from people or foxes can destroy a clutch. The National Trust applied proven measures: fencing, refuge zones and strict control of dogs during the breeding season.
These successes are a reminder of how finely balanced the life of coastal birds is. Protecting key sites produces a quick effect, but it does not remove deeper threats. Rising sea levels, changing marine conditions and new disease outbreaks remain real risks capable of undoing today's gains. The National Trust's data show that with targeted work colonies are capable of recovering, yet their resilience is still fragile.
A similar picture is seen in other regions of England — for example, at the Beacon lagoons in Yorkshire little terns have also set a record for half a century. Such local victories underline the value of constant monitoring and habitat management, especially for species whose nesting grounds lie on the boundary between land and sea.
Ultimately, protecting coastal tern colonies requires not one-off efforts but systematic work that takes into account climate change and biological threats.
