Louth Nature Trust

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Louth Nature Trust Little Terns leave their wintering grounds in Africa to breed. http://www.louthnaturetrust.info

They are an annex 1 species and Louth Nature Trust run the project at Baltray to protect the nesting Little Terns since 24/7. The Little Tern season has started for 2014

Last year there were nearly 200 birds fledged. This year has had a promising start with 21 nests with eggs by 1st June 2014. You can keep up to date with the progress of the birds and their forthcoming hatchlings by following the warden's blog, found under the Little Terns section. Louth Nature Trust would like to thank everyone who is helping with the continuation of this valuable project; professional wardens, volunteers, Louth County Council, The heritage Council, NPWS, Birdwatch Ireland and members of the public for their continued support. The Louth Nature Trust was founded in 2008 by Sandra McKeever, Margaret O'Reilly, Peter Phillips and Breffni Martin. The current board consists of Eanna Ni Lamhna (Chair), Abby Mc Sherry, Bill Tosh (Treasurer), Maurice Eakin, Brian Walsh, Paraic McKevitt, Cathal Johnson, Dominic Hartigan, Mark Dearey and Breffni Martin (Company Secretary). Its objectives include
Managing the Little Tern Conservation Project at Baltray
Acquiring and managing sites of conservation interest
Promoting nature conservation in County Louth
Protecting Louth's biodiversity where it is threatened


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Hi Everyone,Darci here! I thought that I would create a little “Day in The Life” plog to show what it’s like to be a Lit...
04/07/2026

Hi Everyone,
Darci here! I thought that I would create a little “Day in The Life” plog to show what it’s like to be a Little Tern Warden and a couple of the tasks that had to be completed.

We have a couple of fledglings going through “flight school” where they learn how to fly in order to successfully make the trip back to Senegal in August!

Hi Everyone,I am very excited to give the update that we officially have 366 chicks running around the beach! We still h...
28/06/2026

Hi Everyone,

I am very excited to give the update that we officially have 366 chicks running around the beach! We still have around 54 eggs being incubated and even Little Terns who still seem to be gearing up to lay eggs!

This is a new record for Baltray! Combined efforts of volunteers and wardens helped to achieve this milestone.

The season is in full swing now! There will soon be fledglings learning how to fly and preparing for the trip back to Senegal in August!!

- Darci

Hi Everyone! The 2026 Little Tern breeding season is well under way!! We have around 200 Little Tern chicks running arou...
25/06/2026

Hi Everyone!
The 2026 Little Tern breeding season is well under way!!

We have around 200 Little Tern chicks running around the beach, and growing big and strong.

We’ve had lots of help from volunteers so far and we are always happy to welcome more to the project!

Updates about the colony and more will be coming weekly 😁

- Wardens Ivan, Darci and Cormac

05/06/2026

A falcon rarely seen in Ireland has become something of a local celebrity after being spotted in north Louth.

The bird, a young female Red-footed Falcon was spotted by Fergal Stanley on May 28 at the marsh at the end of the Shore Road in Dundalk.

This species nests in eastern Europe and Asia and migrates south in autumn to spend the winter in Africa. It is very rarely seen Ireland and this is the first one to be seen in Louth., causing great excitement among local ornithologists.

“It is very likely that the change in weather in the last week in May, especially the mild southerly winds, resulted in this bird wandering far away from its normal range.,” said Tom Cooney, author of Birds of Louth.

27/05/2026

In countries like Sweden, drivers are trained on how to respond if they encounter injured or dead wildlife. Reporting systems are in place, and wildlife awareness is built into driver education.

In Ireland, this isn’t something most people are taught.

If you come across injured wildlife on the road:

- Do not approach if it is unsafe
- Move to a safe location
- Contact a local wildlife rescue or rehabilitation service

If the animal has been killed, reporting it can still help build a picture of where wildlife is most at risk.

Dead wildlife sightings can also be reported to the National Biodiversity Data Centre at https://records.biodiversityireland.ie/record/mammals #7/53.455/-8.016

Greater awareness can make a real difference for both wildlife and the people who share these roads.

20/05/2026
Some of the wildflowers currently in bloom in Baltray. The Haven is a great place to spot some lovely wildflower species...
28/04/2026

Some of the wildflowers currently in bloom in Baltray. The Haven is a great place to spot some lovely wildflower species this spring and summer.

The Little Terns have arrived and are slowly settling in on the beach, flying around with fish and pairing up for the season.

Our volunteers and wardens are ready and looking forward to another successful season for the Little Terns.

28/04/2026

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