Wildlife

UK Common Tern Conservation and Colony Management

Conservation of common terns in UK coastal and inland colonies and management of nesting habitats.

Key Facts

UK common tern population is around 10,000 pairs spread across coastal and inland sites
Rafts and islands specifically designed for terns significantly improve breeding success
Predator exclusion fencing protects inland colony sites from ground predators
Common terns are migratory, wintering off West African coasts
Human disturbance at colony sites causes nest abandonment and chick mortality

Welfare Considerations

Common tern chicks are highly vulnerable to predation and disturbance, with colony management and predator exclusion delivering direct welfare benefits for individual birds.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and Wildlife Trust common tern colony management
Respect buffer zones around coastal seabird colonies
Donate to seabird conservation through the Seabird Group