Colonies of important seabirds have been decimated by bird flu at an RSPB sanctuary off the Northumberland coast
Coquet Island is home to the only nesting roseate tern colony in the UK, with around 150 breeding pairs of the species registered at the start of this season. Roseate terns live in nest boxes there provided by the RSPB, having been driven to the brink of extinction in the 19th century.
There are also Sandwich, Arctic and common terns on the island, with bird flu affecting all four species, resulting in serious losses of chicks. Several adult birds have also died, which could severely affect seabird populations in the coming years.
