THE colony of little terns nesting at Chesil Beach is under ‘dire’ threat from being lost forever.

The familiar sea birds have returned to their summer home alongside the car park at Ferrybridge to prepare for the nesting season.

Numbers on the reserve have declined at an alarming rate in recent years and bird lovers fear their efforts to protect the species from predators are futile.

The past decade has seen a steady decline, from around 100 breeding pairs at Chesil in 1999, to just 10 pairs last year.

Reserve assistant Angela Thomas said: “For the past couple of years we have had problems with the weather and predation. We have been trying various methods of fencing, but unfortunately foxes and crows have managed to get in and take all the eggs. Of the few clutches we have managed to save, the crows have come and taken the chicks.”

But in one final push to prevent the colony disappearing altogether from Chesil – the last remaining breeding colony for little terns in the South West – extra measures are being introduced.

Natural England and the RSPB have given more funding and resources to ensure the site is safeguarded with 24-hour wardening, fencing, and high-powered lamps to deter predators at night.

“Things are quite dire for our colony,” said Miss Thomas. “We will continue trying to warden them but this is a big push to try and turn the colony around.”

New fencing has enclosed a larger area, and a team of RSPB wardens patrol the beach at night, with regular Chesil Beach Centre volunteers wardening during the day.

RSPB warden Alistair Smith said: “These measures have been tried and tested elsewhere, so there is no reason why it wouldn’t work at Chesil Beach.

“This is the colony’s last chance to get successful fledglings – any less and the numbers are not enough for it to be financially viable.

“Historically they have bred along Chesil Beach and to lose them from the local bird list would be upsetting.”

Around 40 little terns have already been seen in the area, although they will not sit until the end of May.

To ensure their breeding is successful, more daytime volunteers are needed. Miss Thomas said: “We are always on the look out for volunteers because we have never got full coverage, which has been one of our problems in previous years.”

A volunteer recruitment evening is being held at 7.30pm on Wednesday, May 20, at the Chesil Beach Centre. For details call 01305 760579.

The smallest of the species in the UK, the little tern has a black-tipped yellow bill with yellow legs and feet.

It is short-tailed and has a fast flight, and while fishing it will hover over the water and dive to catch its prey.

A tern weighs around 58g, the same weight as a Mars bar.

The small birds travel from the coast of western Africa and arrive in the UK from the end of April to nest on beaches, returning to warmer climes in August and September.

It is noisy at its breeding colony where courtship starts with an aerial display involving the male calling and carrying a fish to attract a mate which chases him up high before he descends.

Chesil Bank is the furthest and only breeding colony in the South West, where there has been a project to warden terns since 1974.