Little Terns thrive on Denbighshire’s Coastline

One of the rarest seabirds in the UK is continuing to thrive on the edge of Prestatyn despite the population plummeting elsewhere around the country. Another good season saw an increase to 141 breeding little tern pairs, the highest known to be recorded at the site. Recent surveys have shown stocks of small fish such as sandeel, favoured by Little Tern chicks, are relatively abundant off the Denbighshire coast. This has certainly helped the terns in rearing their chicks this year with a total of 170 fledglings, this being highest number since 2010.

The role of Denbighshire's Countryside Service and a band of dedicated volunteers is crucial to the success of this nationally important bird colony. The 2016 season has seen Gronant placed in second place across the UK for both little tern breeding pairs and fledgling success. This achievement is tribute to the hard work put in towards the protection scheme by conservationists and volunteers over the last 40 years, in maintaining electric fencing, chasing off predators and in public engagement activities. There are no barriers to participation in the protection scheme and volunteers from all backgrounds arrive in numbers from across the region.

Without this dedication the colony would disappear and breeding Little Terns would be lost from the Welsh shoreline.

The Little Tern is so much more than a black and white seabird. Every year these plucky individuals fly 4,000 miles from the West Coast of Africa to rear their young on the outskirts of Prestatyn. Local residents are proud of this fact and they have become an iconic species and which is good for tourism.

A healthy Little Tern Population relies on a healthy sand dune system and this is certainly the case on much of Denbighshire’s Coastline. The dunes running east from Prestatyn are protected by being designated a Special Protection Area and Denbighshire County Council and partners actively manage the area for its outstanding biodiversity and recreational interest. The dunes also provide a natural sea defence and which is so important in these times of unpredictable and changing weather patterns.

Understanding Little Tern behaviour is crucial in helping them to reach a sustainable breeding population. We are a long way off but funding through a five-year EU LIFE+ Nature Little Tern Recovery project has already reaped rewards. Hugh Irving, Lead Member for Communities, explains ‘we are in a very exciting era of understanding the habits of Little Terns. A colour ringing programme through LIFE+ funding has transformed how we can gain information, now by just looking through a telescope we can know instantly where the bird is from and how old it is.  

Gronant Dunes is a fantastic place to go to visit with its extensive sand dunes and important wildlife. The Little Tern is certainly the star of the show and, following the launch by volunteers of the North Wales Little Tern Group this year, there is an even greater commitment to ensuring these plucky seabirds have a secure future.

Councillor Hugh Irving, Lead Member for Volunteering Strategy said: I was delighted to learn of the success of this year’s Little Tern project.  This initiative is a shining example of how much can be achieved by a combination of the County Council’s expertise and a working group of dedicated volunteers.

“On my visits to the site this Summer one could only be impressed by the commitment of the volunteer wardens at the reserve not just overseeing and protecting the  nesting area but also encouraging and explaining to passing members of the public the activities of the group .

This commitment is making a huge contribution towards the preservation of this important species as well as providing research opportunities into their breeding habits and migratory flight paths from West Africa and the volunteers deserve a huge thank you for their efforts.

“I would encourage anyone with some time to spare to look at the volunteering opportunities that exist with the County Council.”