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Volunteers protect rare bird colony
NATURE lovers are preparing a safe home for a very rare breed of bird.
Conservationists have fenced off an area of Crimdon Sands to provide a haven for a colony of little terns who annually breed on the site.
Last year, the colony proved the most successful in the country with more than double the previous year's amount of chicks hatching.
The small seabirds are migrating to the beach from the sweltering climate of West Africa to rear their chicks before heading south before the winter begins.
The colony is deemed highly valuable as it had the biggest number of fledglings in all of Britain last year – boosting the low numbers of the rare species.
They nest at Crimdon's beach from May to September.
Volunteers have fenced off a designated area and a hide has been constructed so they can keep an eye on their visitors without disturbing them.
They will also make sure the breeding birds do not come under attack from predators.
District of Easington Council's coast and countryside volunteer rangers, Hartlepool countryside wardens and volunteers from Natural England, the National Trust and the Industry Nature Conservation Association carried out the work.
Mark Frain, a coast and countryside ranger, said: "Our volunteers are on site seven days a week for eight or more hours a day and their efforts have had a massive impact.
"Last year the colony was the most successful in Britain and Ireland when it produced 110 healthy fledglings compared to 47 the year before."
He added that while volunteers are on site they are keen to talk to visitors about the little terns and hand out information about wider work to maintain and conserve the area's beauty spots.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
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