Located near the mouth of Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island is an internationally important wildlife haven. The shallow brackish waters of the magical Brownsea lagoon attract thousands of migrating birds, including one of the most gregarious of all seabirds, the Sandwich tern. During the summer months, the islands within the lagoon are filled with nesting Sandwich terns, breeding alongside common terns, gulls, common shelduck, oystercatchers and water rails. It is a wildlife spectacle – an assault on all the senses – their loud cries, intense smell, and sheer numbers.

Brownsea offers a unique and safe environment for Sandwich terns to nest on a sheltered lagoon away from extremes of weather associated with usual UK coastal conditions, with minimal threats from predators, as well as being a stone’s throw from vital sand eel populations and other small fish for feeding hungry chicks.

Normally, the fledging rates on Brownsea exceed regional averages, but in recent years we have seen a worrying decline, partly due to weather changes and predation from neighbouring great blackbacked gulls, but also due to loss of nesting habitat on the lagoon

Historically, Sandwich terns were greatly affected by egg collection and the livery trade in the 19th century, with their plumage a favourite amongst milliners. More recently, they have been impacted by loss of nesting habitat on sand and shingle beaches.

Today, Sandwich tern habitat is becoming extremely rare along our UK coastlines and faces many challenges, such as increased recreational use, expanding coastal communities and warming seas. In fact, most Sandwich tern colonies in the UK only survive because they are on nature reserves, managed and protected for wildlife.

With each mating pair only laying one or two eggs a year, we need to ensure that these birds have the best opportunities for survival now.

Sadly, the global pandemic prevented us from carrying out critical maintenance on the lagoon. So, we must act now to save this vital habitat before it is too late.

This winter, we urgently need to undertake a major programme of works on Brownsea lagoon to restore and increase high quality nesting habitats which are protected from erosion, predation and being trampled by deer.

With your help, our dedicated conservation staff and volunteers can restore these incredibly important nesting islands and, hopefully, secure a safe future for our resident Sandwich terns.

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