Orford Ness is an extremely important breeding area for Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)
It is especially for the East Suffolk colonies. On the east coast of Suffolk there are normally between 120 and 160 pairs breeding (c.131 in 2002) with 31 pairs (two colonies) on the Ness during 2002 - a decrease over previous years (c. 90 pairs in 1999) due largely to human disturbance.
Little Terns, although breeding on undisturbed areas of the Ness, returned in 1995 to breed on the northern section of Sudbourne Beach after several years’ absence. This is largely due to the control of illegal access, particularly by vehicles, over this area by the Trust since 1993. However, inconsiderate walkers, beach anglers and motorcyclists illegally riding on the shingle continue to cause severe disruption and damage to the colonies.
This disturbance appears to be causing an overall continuing annual downward trend in the breeding success of this bird. The Little Tern, the rarest of our terns and a species protected by law will continue to be monitored during the breeding season to try and prevent these occurrences. Interestingly, the proximity of the huge gull colony has little effect on the breeding success of the terns, as the gulls, although extremely predatory birds show few signs of predation of the terns here.
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