Beachgoers blamed as Kent birds put on red alert
Kent Wildlife Trust says that recreational pressures are adding to the decline of seabirds, meaning they could become extinct.
Kristin Hawthorne reports.
Kristin Hawthorne reports.
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00:00Footage of dogs chasing endangered migratory birds at Pegwell Bay, as well as speedboats
00:05towering through the area, has sparked environmental concerns from conservationists protecting
00:10the site. Kent Wildlife Trust says an influx of visitors during the summer period to the
00:16area may be unaware of their impact on the wildlife here, as restrictions are commonly
00:21ignored, adding to the problem.
00:23The birds rely on this site. There's these wonderful nutrient-rich mudflats behind me,
00:29with a salt marsh to roost in. They need this area to rest while they're on the migratory
00:33route between their breeding grounds and their overwintering grounds. And people aren't always
00:37aware that when they scare a bird, or maybe their dog scares a bird, or whatever recreational
00:42activity they might be doing causes a bird to fly off, that can have a long-term impact
00:46on it. So if birds continuously are disturbed, they lose energy, they aren't able to feed.
00:52As five new species of seabirds are added to the UK's Red Tier list, 73 birds are now
00:59at risk of becoming extinct. Pegwell and Sandwich Bay, Kent's largest protected area, supports
01:05two of these species, the common gull, as well as the black-backed gull, as they travel
01:11here on their flight path from the Arctic Circle.
01:14Things like disturbance that can push these birds over the edge, it can have an impact,
01:20for example, on the nesting birds here, and that's going to impact their long-term population
01:25success. There's lots of places that we can go and we can enjoy, we can do recreational
01:31activities. The few areas that we have left that are protected for wildlife need to remain
01:36so, so that the wildlife can enjoy it, and we can also enjoy watching the wildlife at
01:40the same time.
01:42Pegwell Bay has a public space protection order. Anyone who lets their dog off the leash
01:47could face a fine of up to £100. Police and volunteers will be closely monitoring
01:52this area to prevent the extinction of birds and help the area to flourish.
01:57This has been Kristen Hawthorne for KMTV.