Conservation Pays Off for England’s Smallest Seabird
RSPB projects and local volunteers deliver the strongest breeding results for Little Terns in over half a century.
Strong year for a fragile species
After years of worrying declines, Little Terns Sternula albifrons have enjoyed a positive breeding season across England. Weighing less than a tennis ball yet capable of migrating thousands of miles from West Africa each spring, these delicate seabirds nest on sand and shingle beaches – habitats that have become increasingly scarce and disturbed. Their population has fallen by 39% since the 1980s due to habitat loss, disturbance, and predation, but this summer brought cause for optimism.
Encouraging results across England’s colonies
RSPB-monitored sites from Dorset to Yorkshire recorded promising breeding results in 2025, marking the best season in years for several colonies.
- Eccles, Norfolk: Part of the RSPB-led Beach Nesting Birds Project, Eccles saw 455 Little Terns fledge – up from 319 chicks across East Norfolk in 2019 and the highest number since the colony began in 2002.
- Beacon Lagoons, Humber Estuary: Led by Spurn Bird Observatory with RSPB and local partners, this site recorded its best season in over 50 years with 105 breeding pairs and 110 chicks fledged.
- Pagham Harbour, West Sussex: The RSPB reserve celebrated 21 fledged chicks after recording none in 2024.
- Chesil Beach, Dorset: The RSPB-led Chesil Little Tern Recovery Project had its fourth productive year in a row, with at least 39 chicks fledging compared with just three in 2021.
Partnerships behind the progress
These gains follow years of collaborative effort to tackle the threats facing beach-nesting birds – from coastal development to recreational disturbance and predators. Thanks to targeted conservation, Little Tern numbers across England have risen by 6.7% since 2019.
Partnership projects including the Little Tern LIFE Recovery Project, Solent Seascape Project, and LIFE on the Edge have enhanced and restored nesting habitats, improved predator management, and worked closely with communities to reduce human disturbance. Nationally, the RSPB and Natural England are leading a Beach Nesting Bird Programme to safeguard key breeding sites for Little Terns and other vulnerable species such as Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher.
Voices from the field
Chantal MacLeod-Nolan, Seabird Project Recovery Officer at the RSPB, said: “Little Terns were in a downward spiral for years, so it’s wonderful to see early signs that they might be climbing back. It’s not all smooth sailing from here, especially with evolving threats such as avian flu, but it’s really encouraging to see these amazing birds improving when given the right protections. None of this would be possible without the incredible dedication of volunteers and local communities.”
A fitting story for World Migratory Bird Day
The success comes shortly after World Migratory Bird Day, celebrated on 11 October, which highlights the extraordinary journeys made by species like the Little Tern and the importance of protecting global coastlines. England’s East Coast Wetlands – stretching from north Norfolk to Lincolnshire – were added to the UK’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in 2023 in recognition of their international importance for migratory birds.
October 2025
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