Dog walkers threaten success of little tern nests

Dog walkers taking their pets near a little tern nesting ground are jeopardising one of the UK's most important seabird colonies, a conservationist has warned.

The tiny seabirds have nested on the beach at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, every year since 2019.

Hartlepool Borough Council put in place a seasonal dog exclusion zone from 1 May to 30 September, stretching from Norton Hotel to the coach park, but on just one afternoon this month wardens spotted 24 breaches with dogs getting too close to the nesting area.

The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust's little tern warden, Derek Wood, said keeping dogs away from the site "really does make a difference" as disturbances can put eggs and chicks at risk.

He said: "These birds have chosen our coast after an incredible journey, and they are relying on us to give them the space they need."

Ringed plovers have also chosen to nest at the site and both species create shallow, unlined scrapes on the ground between the high-tide mark and the top of the beach.

Even brief disturbance can cause adult birds to leave their nests, leaving eggs and chicks vulnerable.

Hartlepool Borough Council's director of communities, Gemma Ptak, said the majority of dog owners were being considerate but it was "really disappointing" that some were taking their pets into the exclusion zone.

"This not only risks the beach not being clean for the visitors who use it, especially children, it also puts the fragile nesting of the little terns in jeopardy," she said.

"We would urge people to report any breaches of the dog exclusion zone to us."

Little terns, the smallest terns in the UK, typically leave Seaton Carew in mid-to-late August, having migrated from West Africa.

The species is currently classed as being in the "amber" category on the UK list of conservation concern.

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