Sandwich tern colony rebounds to 756 breeding pairs after bird flu wipeout

Summary

A colony of sandwich terns at Pagham Harbour in West Sussex has grown from zero to 756 breeding pairs in three years, following its complete loss to bird flu in 2022. The Guardian reports that RSPB conservation work in the Solent has also helped terns, gulls, plovers and oystercatchers recover on England’s south coast.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   19 Oct 2026, 06:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that RSPB conservation work in the Solent has helped seabirds recover, including a sandwich tern colony at Pagham Harbour that rose from zero to 756 breeding pairs in three years after being wiped out by bird flu in 2022.