A COLONY of rare sea birds has produced a record breeding year despite disaster striking the species elsewhere in the UK.
Little terns are among the country's rarest sea birds. But a colony at Crimdon Dene, on the outskirts of Hartlepool, has become one of the most successful in the country.
A conservation project involving Durham Heritage Coast, Durham Countryside S
ervice, Hartlepool Rangers and Natural England has seen 57 pairs nesting at the site that have produced at least 108 chicks.
The project has seen protective fencing put up for the birds to safely nest inside and constant monitoring of the site by wardens in partnership with police.
The efforts have been co-ordinated by the Industry Nature Conservation Association (INCA) with Able UK paying towards the work.
Geoff Barber, of INCA, based at the Wilton International site, near Redcar, said: "The colony has done really well and 108 chicks is a record.
"We will not have ringed them all and there will be a few extra ones out there. This year we had 57 pairs nesting and pairs usually produce clutches of three eggs.
"We are hearing reports from other parts of the country that suggest the birds are having a disastrous year, primarily due to predation, so we are delighted that ours have done so well.
"Now, as the young start to fledge, the only real risk to them would be a period of bad weather."
Little Terns are ground nesting birds meaning they are vulnerable to disturbance by people and predators like foxes, black headed gulls and hedgehogs.
