It appears that 2006 has been a bumper year for Little Terns at the Ayres National Nature Reserve.
This summer it is believed 21 pairs of nesting birds successfully raised a minimum of 22 young.
This is one of the best years for this species at the Ayres NNR and is a marked improvement on last year when all eggs produced were predated.
Success in breeding is vital in the British Isles as the bird is under threat.
A population census in 2000 found only 130 Little Tern colonies in the whole of Britain and Ireland.
The NNR is important for a number of rare species.
By-laws were brought in in 2005, to protect these species and the habitats supporting them, while allowing a range of different recreational uses.
Wednesday 13th, September 2006 06:24pm.
