Successful Season for Baltray Little Tern Conservation Project
The Baltray Little Tern Conservation Project in County Louth has reported a highly successful season, with over 160 Little Tern chicks recorded on the beach. These rare seabirds, which migrate from West Africa to nest in Ireland, are benefiting from dedicated conservation efforts.
The Baltray site, one of three on Ireland’s east coast, provides ideal nesting conditions for the Little Terns. The shingle and sand beach offers excellent camouflage for their nests and chicks, and the nearby Irish Sea and River Boyne estuary provide abundant food sources. This season, the project has recorded 111 nests and 165 chicks.
Ecologist and warden Nina Rogerson described the season as having a “quite a high success rate,” despite some losses due to weather and predators like kestrels. She noted a significant improvement from last year when only 80 fledged chicks survived, largely due to tidal washouts and predation.
Since March, the Louth Nature Trust, supported by around 40 volunteers, has been preparing for the Little Terns’ arrival by erecting protective fencing. From April, the team has been on 24-hour patrol, monitoring a 1.5 km stretch of the beach to safeguard the birds.
Ms. Rogerson and zoologist Brónagh Barnes have been key wardens this season. Ms. Barnes explained their meticulous process of observing and marking nests, ensuring minimal disturbance to the protected species. Once a nest is identified and confirmed to be a full clutch, they predict hatching within 18-21 days and check back for chicks close to the expected time.
The project faces challenges from human disturbance, as the nests blend into the beach, making them vulnerable. Predators such as sparrow hawks, kestrels, peregrines, foxes, crows, and rooks also pose significant threats to the eggs and chicks. Despite these dangers, the chicks typically stay in the nest for a few days before learning to fly and forage within 18-25 days.
In addition to protection, the project collects vital data on the Little Terns, including nesting numbers, egg counts, and behavior. This information helps improve conservation strategies by comparing yearly data and tracking ringed birds to monitor their movements.
The conservation project, run by the Louth Nature Trust with support from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Heritage Council, and Louth County Council, started in 2007 with just two women and has grown to include around 40 volunteers. Dominic Hartigan, a Director of the Louth Nature Trust, emphasized the significance of the project, noting the regional population of Little Terns in the Irish Sea is about 2,000, with Baltray hosting around 200 breeding birds.
Volunteer Áine Walsh, who has been with the project since its inception, highlighted the critical role of volunteers in engaging with the public and protecting the nests. She emphasized the importance of the project for conserving Ireland’s rarest seabird and raising public awareness about their plight.
The success of the Baltray Little Tern Conservation Project demonstrates the impact of dedicated conservation efforts and community involvement in protecting vulnerable species.
