Protected islands help Pagham’s terns raise 570 young

Sandwich terns raised 570 young at Pagham Harbour this summer, following years of work to rebuild nesting colonies after bird flu caused birds to abandon the site in 2022.

The newly reported counts also show black-headed gull fledglings rising from 51 last year to 504. Staff and volunteers at the West Sussex reserve have cleared vegetation, maintained predator fencing and patrolled nesting areas.

An earlier report explains the work behind that protection: three nesting islands require annual maintenance, biosecurity checks and round-the-clock monitoring. The colony’s 756 breeding pairs had already been recorded in August.

Visitors have a part to play too. The reserve’s guidance asks people to keep dogs under control on designated paths and provides separate dog exercise areas.

These are breeding-season counts, and the islands still need management every year. Keeping nesting sites safe remains an ongoing job.

For now, the young birds offer a tangible result from that patient work: protected space has helped another generation take flight.

Sources

• The Guardian — Seabird numbers bounce back in Solent region after 2022 avian flu wipeout
• BirdGuides — Pagham Harbour Sandwich Tern colony hits new high
• RSPB — Pagham Harbour Local Nature Reserve