In the late 1800s Roseate Terns were hunted for their plumes
which were used to decorate hats. More recently their
numbers have decreased in some regions due to increased
competition and predation by large gulls. With their
favouring partly-hidden nest sites and the provision of nest
boxes has proven a dramatic conservation success with the
birds taking to them readily. This resulted in greatly
increased breeding productivity with the protection given to
the young from predatory Gulls. On Coquet Island in
Northumberland the population rose from twenty-five pairs in
1997 to ninety-two pairs in 2005 after nest boxes were
provided. Similar measures have been undertaken at sites on
Anglesey.
There have been two Roseate Tern reported from S.
Gloucestershire;
1997: (1)
On October 8th a juvenile/ 1st winter was noted at Severn
Beach.
1990: (1)
On May 1st a full summer adult was watched for several
minutes off New Passage. This occurrence constitutes the
first report of this species for S. Gloucestershire.