In 2022, bird flu hit Pagham Harbour on England’s south coast so hard that the breeding colony was abandoned entirely, with sandwich terns, black-headed gulls, and Mediterranean gulls all severely affected. This year, 756 sandwich terns are using the site again, and several other vulnerable species are climbing too.
The recovery comes from years of hands-on work by the RSPB: predator-proof fencing, rat monitoring, selective vegetation removal, and volunteer patrols protecting ground-nesting birds. Wez Smith, senior project manager for the RSPB, noted that after several years of effort the site is now thriving with record-breaking populations.
The colony’s revival is part of the wider Solent Seascape project, restoring habitats across a 128,000-acre coastal stretch between Brighton and Southampton. It’s a rare bright spot in wildlife news and proof that sustained conservation can reverse even devastating losses. Which species comeback would you love to see next?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.