Yorkshire Coast Nature 2021 Grant Helps Roseate Terns

Fri 12th Feb, 2021

At YCN we love helping birds and wildlife through our company sponsorship of projects close to our heart. Every year we take groups to the glorious Northumberland coast and enjoy the amazing seabirds. One of these birds the Roseate Tern finds its only English nesting colony on the tiny island of Coquet.

Roseate Tern Coquet Island photo by RSPB

The nature reserve is owned and managed by the RSPB. Every year we sponsor a tailor-made Roseate nesting box to help the reserve. This year we reacted quickly to their urgent appeal in January.

The wardens on Coquet sporting their very smart Covid Puffin masks

Paul Morrison. Coquet Island Site Manager takes up the story;

"The tiny RSPB sanctuary of Coquet Island is host to some 70,000 nesting seabirds annually. The residential wardens and volunteers depend on a modest solar system to provide power for the security CCTV system, LED lights, laptops, mobile chargers and an essential macerator. On dull days, back up is via a small portable temperamental generator.

The lighthouse on Coquet photo by RSPB

YCN responded to an appeal to replace this vital bit of kit and bought a new 2000KW generator for the reserve with a £200 grant. The day after delivery, the power went down in the accommodation, with a fault on the solar system. A few tense minutes went by whilst a plug was fitted to the generator, oil added to the engine and fuelled up…  and started first pull!! Saved the day and it will provide reliable power for years to come".

Big Thanks go to Yorkshire Coast Nature for this generous (and timely) support.

Paul Morrison RSPB Coquet Warden with the new generator January 2021

For more information on the amazing work of the RSPB wardens on Coquet and to find out how you can help Click Here

Richard Baines

Yorkshire Coast Nature