03/07/2019
A major
restoration project is expected to give Roseate
Tern a
significant boost in Northern Ireland, with recently hatched chicks at RSPB's
Larne Lough confirming that the programme is off to a successful start.
Larne
Lough reserve is one of the most important sites around the island of
Ireland for breeding terns and, after sea defences collapsed causing flooding
and erosion, it has now been restored as part of a £391,000 project, with
costs partially covered by the EU-funded Roseate Tern LIFE Recovery Project,
Ahead of the 2019 breeding season, RSPB-led works shored up the island and
extended the tern nesting area, making it a prime potential site for a Roseate
Tern colony.
While there
were between 20 and 35 breeding pairs at Larne Lough between 1985 and 1989,
just one pair has been recorded in recent years. However, last week a survey
revealed that two chicks hatched, with RSPB Northern Ireland Tern
Conservation Officer Monika Wojcieszek saying: "This is fantastic news
that we have two Roseate Tern chicks on Blue Circle and we're hopeful that we
can see their numbers increase year on year.
"This
restoration project was a major piece of conservation work and it was vital to safeguard
this tern colony. The works were needed to preserve the integrity of the site –
parts of it were completely inundated at high tide periods, limiting nesting
and breeding opportunities.
"On
the island we have approximately 7,000 birds, but Roseate Tern is one of the
rarest of all our breeding birds in the UK and Ireland, so it's fantastic that
we have been able to work with partners, including Tarmac, to complete this
work on the island."
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