Downturn in fortunes: Long Nanny terns face mounting pressures from climate change and disease

Reports from the National Trust, who look after this vitally important breeding site for the terns at Long Nanny near Beadnell in Northumberland indicate that the number of occupied Arctic tern nests has dropped by 313 compared to last year (724 occupied nests in 2025 compared to 1,037 in 2024).

This news comes just one month after a high spring tide washed away occupied Arctic tern and little tern nests at Long Nanny, despite rangers' best efforts to protect them from extreme weather conditions. It also comes just 10 months after the Arctic tern species was added to the UK Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC) Red List, reflecting the significant population declines driven by multiple factors including climate change, overfishing and avian influenza[1].

James Porteus, Lead Ranger for the National Trust at Long Nanny said: “After several difficult years due to storms washing out nests and then bird flu, we have been saddened by the drop in Arctic tern numbers returning to Long Nanny this year to breed. We don’t know the reason for the decline but suspect it will be due to factors such as climate change, food availability and of course avian influenza.

“Arctic terns have been badly impacted by the disease at their breeding sites here in the UK in recent years, but we don’t know how the species has been affected by the disease outside of the nesting season.

“Little and Arctic terns are facing mounting pressures from rising seas and stronger storms due to climate change, and disease.

“Despite our best efforts, even the most carefully protected nests can be lost in a single tide. The changing fortunes of these remarkable coastal birds underscore just how vulnerable our seabird colonies are.”

Each summer Long Nanny becomes a haven for some of the UK’s rarest seabirds including the little tern, and the red-list Arctic tern, known for its extraordinary migratory journey. This species undertakes one of the longest migrations of any animal, travelling from the Arctic, stopping off at the UK, before heading to the Antarctic for the winter – a journey that ranges from 44,000 - 59,000 miles annually.

They return to the UK in early May to breed and nest on the fragile dunes and beaches at the Long Nanny shorebird site, where seven National Trust rangers monitor and protect them from disturbance and predation.

James continued: “National Trust rangers have played a vital role at Long Nanny since we began managing the site in 1977. Back then, there wasn’t a single Arctic tern here, and only a handful of little tern nests.

“Today’s colony is a testament to decades of dedicated conservation work carried out each summer to protect this special piece of beach.

“National Trust rangers rope off approximately 10 hectares of beach and dune each summer, providing nesting habitat for Arctic terns, little terns and ringed plover which is free from recreational disturbance. Rangers work 24/7 from May to August to protect the birds through predator deterrence, engaging with beach users and undertake intensive monitoring.

“The Arctic tern colony at Long Nanny peaked in 2018, when over 2,800 nests were recorded. Little terns breed in much smaller numbers and the number of nests were at their highest in 1994 when 57 pairs nested.”

But it isn’t all bad news. Ten little tern pairs have since made a second nesting attempt at Long Nanny, and it is thought that the remaining birds may have relocated to the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, which is managed by Natural England.

This year has also seen the return of an American black tern, a very rare visitor to the UK. The bird has spent the summer at the Long Nanny for the last six years and in 2024 made a breeding attempt with an Arctic tern. In 2024 the rangers ringed the bird and so have been able to confirm that it is the same bird that is returning year on year.

Ben McCarthy, Head of Nature Conservation and Restoration Ecology at the National Trust said: “The importance of Long Nanny is testament to the work of the dedicated rangers and volunteers who work 24/7 to protect our precious seabirds.

“The National Trust is committed to recovering our globally important seabird populations working with key partners to deliver best practice, monitoring and research.

“The Long Nanny and wider Northumberland coast will remain a focus of our conservation work to help these delicate birds continue their extraordinary lives.”

Rangers who have traditionally camped on-site for months at a time to protect the vulnerable seabirds at Long Nanny are now benefiting from newly refurbished accommodation at Newton Point. The upgrade of former Ministry of Defence buildings, now in the care of the National Trust, provides a secure and comfortable base while ensuring the team maintains its vital 24/7 presence on the beach throughout the breeding season.

Visitors are very welcome at the Long Nanny shorebird site to find out more from the rangers and to get a close view of the birds. To help us to protect this special place, please follow the local signage, diversions and always keep dogs on a short lead.

For more information or to make a donation search for Long Nanny on the National Trust website www.nationaltrust.org.uk