Seabird colonies recover on England’s south coast
Conservation work helped several species return after heavy losses from avian flu.
Listen to this article
There is no audio version yet. Request one and an AI voice will read the article aloud.
Read by an AI voice.
Also show where in Europe and in the world
Seabird colonies on England’s south coast are showing signs of recovery after the severe avian flu outbreak of 2022. According to conservationists, terns, gulls and oystercatchers were among those to return to the Solent area.
The development is taking place in and around the Solent area between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Guardian writes that conservation work by the RSPB has contributed to the recovery of several bird species that had largely abandoned their breeding sites after the avian flu outbreak.
A local publication on nature management reports that at least 756 breeding pairs of Sandwich terns were counted in the area this year. In 2023, according to the source, there were still no breeding pairs at the site concerned. The figures relate to a specific colony and should not be interpreted as evidence of recovery among all seabird populations in the United Kingdom.
The return is partly linked to the Solent Seascape Project, in which conservationists, volunteers and land managers work together on habitat and monitoring. Protecting breeding sites can reduce disturbance and make it easier for birds to nest again.
The improvement comes with caveats. The RSPB warns that avian flu remains a threat to seabirds. Food availability, fishing, climate change, predation and disturbance can also affect populations.
The counts indicate local recovery, but do not in themselves show what share of that recovery is attributable to management. They are not evidence that the wider problems facing seabirds have been resolved. Longer-term data series and comparisons between colonies are needed for that.
The observed growth is therefore best described as local recovery after a severe decline. For researchers and managers, the counts are important at the same time: they help track the development of colonies and may prompt research into how effective the measures are.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The reports support a local recovery of seabird colonies after avian flu. The text limits the conclusion to the colony mentioned and notes that wider threats persist.
- confirmed Seabird colonies in the Solent area are recovering after the avian flu outbreak of 2022. — Reported by The Guardian and local RSPB information. source
- confirmed At least 756 breeding pairs of Sandwich terns were counted in the colony concerned this year. — Reported by Brighton Chronicle on the basis of conservation information. source
- confirmed Avian flu remains a threat to seabirds. — The RSPB describes avian flu as an ongoing risk to wild birds. source
Editor's note
The return of seabirds and the 756 breeding pairs have been reported by multiple public sources. The wider ecological significance remains limited to local recovery; avian flu and other threats persist.Sources
- Seabird numbers bounce back in Solent region after 2022 avian flu wipeout — The Guardian
- Sandwich terns return to West Sussex colony after bird flu with 756 breeding pairs — Brighton Chronicle
- Sandwich Tern Boom at Pagham Harbour — RSPB Winchester Local Group
More on this in Dutch media
- Trouw — „natuurherstel zeevogels”
- RTL Nieuws — „natuurherstel zeevogels”
- FD — „natuurherstel zeevogels”