Seabird chicks are thriving at two Barrow nature reserves despite facing over 80 incidents of visitor disturbances.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust has reported a very successful breeding season at South Walney and Foulney Island nature reserves after facing serious problems with visitors disturbing nesting grounds.
Breeding season runs from the start of April to around mid-August and the trust said over 50 instances of visitor disturbances were recorded at South Walney with a further 32 incidents caught on camera traps.
Half of the disturbances were people walking on the no-access beach while the other half were recorded as being dogs and their walkers.
Both sites are shingle nature reserves which makes the birds speckled eggs often impossible to spot amid the pebbles making them vulnerable to humans and other predators, as well as high tides.
Seasonal wardens also recorded disturbances from kayakers paddling into no-access areas, microlights and drones – all of which can cause birds to panic and leave their nests, sometimes abandoning them for good.
While visitors are encouraged at the reserves, they’re asked to view wildlife from a distance and told to respect signage and keep to pathways. Dogs are also not permitted on the reserves at all during breeding season.
Jessie Prentice, seasonal warden at South Walney Nature Reserve, recorded most of the incidents. She said: “The vast majority of people were very understanding and apologetic, once I spoke to them to explain why they shouldn’t be walking there.
“I showed them photographs of nests and chicks to point out how well camouflaged they are on the shingle – this proved to be very helpful for people, once they understood the problem.
“We urge everyone to respect the signs and keep to the waymarked paths and any kayakers or canoeists to keep their distance from the nature reserve. This is especially important now, as grey seal pupping season is underway.”
Bekka Watts, seasonal warden at Foulney Island Nature Reserve, also recalled several stories of disturbance by people and their dogs walking in areas that are marked as out of bounds.
The incidents caused the birds to fly off in alarm, leaving their nests exposed and unguarded.
She also said signs saying ‘no dogs’ were removed from the island and the causeway and that one of them was found dumped into the sea. In May, one dog was recorded as mauling a nesting eider to death.
Bekka added: “We had some help from volunteers who did a great job, talking to visitors at the car park. They explained where they could and couldn’t go on the nature reserve, and that dogs aren’t allowed at this time of year.
“Next year we hope to have more volunteers in place, earlier in the season, and we’ll invest in more signs, in the hope that people will see them and take notice of them.
“I hope everyone will help us spread the word that people can’t walk their dogs near ground-nesting birds during breeding season. This is a magical place and we hope that people will continue to visit us, and enjoy wildlife in a responsible way.
“This will help us protect the wonderful birds who make this nature reserve their home.”
Despite the difficult season – little terns at South Walney Nature Reserve saw 10 pairs produce 20 young, doubling their population size. Eight Arctic terns also fledged at Foulney which the trust said was a great result following failure in fledging last year and the birds complete abandonment of the site in 2020.
Both Jessie and Bekka spent the summer recording the birds’ behaviours and the successes and failures of the breeding season in detail. They also spoke with visitors and engaged with them when necessary to advise them on using the footpaths.
Jessie added: “The little terns have had a great year at South Walney. Over the past decade, the population has slowly been increasing and it’s great to have another site for them in the local area to safely nest alongside Foulney.
“So, we’re delighted that in 2023, 10 pairs produced 20 young, doubling their population size. Ringed plovers and oystercatchers have been slightly less successful, but still produced 20 and 36 nests respectively.
We gave extra protection against predators to some of the ringed plover by trialling nest cages, made from stock fencing and chicken wire. They’ve definitely had positive effect on the success rates.
“We’re pleased that the gull colony continues to increase in size after we put in a predator-proof fence a few years ago. This year we recorded 755 pairs of herring gull and 870 pairs of lesser black-backed gull, classified as red and amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern listing.”
Bekka’s job at Foulney involved taking up residence for the summer in a caravan that’s towed over the causeway onto the island at the start of each breeding season.
She said: “It’s a great place to spend the summer – there can’t be many jobs with the view like that! I was particularly pleased that six little terns fledged, and eight Arctic terns.
“That may not sound like a huge number to some people, but to put this in context, three years ago Arctic tern had completely abandoned Foulney Island and last year, they came back but their season failed.
“So it’s good news! Also 12 ringed plover chicks fledged (helped by the same anti-predator nest cages that we used on South Walney – none of the caged nests were disturbed), and nine oystercatcher chicks got away.
“Spring tides are always a challenge for the nests, and while they washed away some eggs, we saw the little oystercatcher chicks swimming through the tides.”
Wez Smith, RSPB senior project manager said that it was fantastic that nesting shorebirds had a good year at both reserves.
He added: “It’s fantastic that nesting shorebirds, particularly little terns, have had a good year at South Walney and Foulney. These stunning shorelines are vital for terns, waders and gulls to raise their young.
“Through LIFE on the Edge, we have been working with Cumbria Wildlife Trust to restore and enhance these nesting sites, all while raising awareness so people can share this coastline and enjoy the wildlife spectacle for generations to come.”
