Tern Colony Disturbance During Breeding

Tern colonies are particularly sensitive to disturbance during the breeding season, with welfare impacts extending to chick survival.

Key Facts

Common, Arctic, Little and Sandwich terns all breed at vulnerable coastal and inland sites in the UK
Human disturbance causing adult terns to flush from nests leaves eggs and chicks exposed to weather and predators
Flushing events during cool weather can cause fatal chilling of eggs and newly hatched chicks
Predator management at tern colonies protects eggs and chicks from foxes, mink and crows
Electric fencing around tern colonies significantly reduces fox and mink predation at managed sites

Welfare Considerations

Disturbance at tern colonies causes acute fear in adults and can result in nest abandonment, chick exposure and predation. Chicks left uncovered during cold spells die from hypothermia rapidly. Human disturbance - even brief - during sensitive breeding periods causes welfare harm that persists long after the disturbance ends.

What You Can Do

Keep a minimum distance of 50-100m from tern colonies during breeding season
Respect exclusion zones and signage at coastal and inland tern breeding sites
Support RSPB tern colony management programmes including electric fence installation
Report repeated human disturbance at tern colonies to the police wildlife crime unit