Report sets out how Long Nanny terns face mounting pressures from climate change and disease

A report from the National Trust, which looks after this vitally important area for the terns at Long Nanny near Beadnell in Northumberland, indicates 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 Red List, reflecting the significant population declines driven by multiple factors including climate change, overfishing and avian influenza.

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.

“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.”

The Arctic tern 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.

The report does, however, include some positive news. Ten little tern pairs have 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.