A significant decline in little tern numbers at a crucial breeding site in the North East has prompted concerns that increased dog disturbances are to blame. The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust has reported a 50% drop in nesting pairs at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, this year, attributing the downturn to a surge in incidents where dogs have entered protected exclusion zones.
Little terns, the smallest seabirds to breed in the UK, have nested on the beach at Seaton Carew annually since 2019. However, this year has seen a marked increase in disruptions. Volunteer wardens documented 427 cases of dogs breaching the exclusion zone in May alone, with a worrying 93 violations recorded on just one day in June. The exclusion zone is established to provide a safe haven for the vulnerable birds during their breeding season.
Derek Wood, the little tern warden for the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, expressed deep concern over the situation. He highlighted that any additional stress on the birds, particularly during the critical nesting period, could lead them to abandon their nests, leaving eggs and chicks vulnerable. Such disturbances could also deter them from returning to the site in future years. The current count of 55 nesting pairs falls significantly short of the anticipated 110 pairs.
The challenges began early in the season when high tides washed away protective fencing around the terns' usual nesting grounds. Although this barrier has since been repaired and an outer dog exclusion zone implemented, Mr Wood noted that the birds arrived already unsettled. He suggested that being 'spooked' by initial flooding and disturbance makes them even more susceptible to moving on if faced with further threats from human or animal proximity.
Little terns undertake a remarkable migration from West Africa to breed in the UK, typically departing Seaton Carew in mid-to-late August. They are currently classified as being in the 'amber' category on the UK list of conservation concern, indicating that they are considered to be at moderate risk. The trust's findings suggest a worrying reversal of progress after years of establishing a safer environment for the terns at the site.