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.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
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.