Gronant Little Tern Colony
The Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) is an unmistakeable seabird easily recognised by a black eye-stripe, a white forehead and a yellow bill with a small black tip. Each spring, the Little Tern travels from west Africa to nest on sand or shingle beaches, spits or small inshore islands around much of the British coastline. Since the 1980s, the population of Little Terns has declined by 50% due to the development of coastal breeding habitat, human disturbance and high levels of predation. Consequently, many colonies are extensively managed in order to protect Little Tern numbers across Britain.
Gronant, near Prestatyn is the only Little Tern colony in Wales. Since 2005, it has been managed by Denbighshire Countryside Service. At Gronant, electric fencing is constructed around suitable breeding habitat to protect Little Tern nests from predators such as foxes (Vulpes vulpes), stoats (Mustela erminea), weasels (Mustela nivalis) and hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus). A perimeter rope is also erected to prevent disturbance from members of the general public visiting the beach. During the season, wardens are employed to monitor breeding birds, engage with the general public, maintain protective fencing and scare away predators. Funding for the wardens is provided by Denbighshire Countryside Service, Presthaven Caravan Park and the Welsh Assembly Government. To help protect the Gronant Little Tern colony, Denbighshire Countryside Service is supported by local volunteers. Last year, they donated over 860 hours of work resulting in the most successful season at Gronant since 2010. In total, 141 chicks fledged from 170 breeding pairs of Little Terns.
Denbighshire Countryside Service is a partner in the EU LIFE+ Nature Little Tern Recovery Project lead by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. This project is a five-year partnership between 11 organisations working together to ensure the long-term future of Little Terns in Britain. Since 2013, EU LIFE+ funding has increased public awareness, provided new equipment and employed additional members of staff. As part of this project, a colour ringing programme was also introduced to find out more about Little Terns including when they start breeding, their movements between nesting colonies and their lifespan. This information will help form long-term conservation plans. Little Terns with colour rings have already started been spotted at Gronant. Last season, three 1-year old non-breeding birds from Kilcoole, Ireland were spotted on the beach in late July and early August. Previously, scientists believed Little Terns stayed in west Africa until they were ready to breed at 2 years old.
The 2017 season started very well for the Little Terns at Gronant. The first Little Tern nest was found on 15th May, then over the next 10 days more than 80 nests were discovered. Unfortunately, the conditions at Gronant became very challenging at the end of May. On 26th and 27th May, 9.9m high tides hit the north Wales coast. Despite a monumental effort by Denbighshire Countryside Service staff and volunteers to move nests to safety, approximately 20 were flooded. This was followed by extremely high winds on 6th and 7th June and the Little Terns were forced to sit bravely on their nests until the winds dropped. The Little Terns are extremely tough seabirds and they have shown huge resilience against the difficult conditions at Gronant. We should be seeing the first fledged birds by mid-July and it is only then we will know if it has been a successful season or not.
We welcome new volunteers to help protect this delightful, chattering seabird at Gronant. For more information, please email littleterns@denbighshire.gov.uk or phone 01745 356197.
If you cannot volunteer, you can show your support by becoming a member of the North Wales Little Tern Group. Funds raised from this group helps protect Little Terns in north Wales. This group has already raised over £500 to put towards a new viewing hide for monitoring the Little Terns at Gronant. For £5 membership, you will receive a welcome pack, a regular newsletter and an invitation to the end of season event. If you would like to become a member, please email nwlittletern@gmail.com.
Pens 2 and 3 inundated by high tides on Saturday 26th May
Volunteers clearing debris from electric fencing
Little tern taking off from nest