Beachgoers blamed as Kent birds put on red alert

KentOnline / KMTV

Kent Wildlife Trust says that recreational pressures are adding to the decline of seabirds, meaning they could become extinct.   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.

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