Content overview: “Seabird Recovery in Solent: Sandwich Terns Return After 2022 Avian Flu Wipeout”. Conservation efforts by the RSPB are driving a remarkable comeback for seabirds along England's south coast after the devastating 2022 avian flu outbreak. At Pagham Harbour in West Sussex, sandwich terns—completely wiped out by the disease—have rebounded from zero to 756 breeding pairs in just three years. The recovery extends across the Solent region, with notable increases in populations of terns, gulls, plovers, and oystercatchers.
Key interventions include habitat management, predator control, and the installation of nesting platforms, which have created safer breeding conditions. The resurgence highlights the critical role of targeted conservation in reversing sudden wildlife losses, offering a blueprint for other coastal areas hit by disease or environmental stress. As climate change and disease risks persist, ongoing monitoring and adaptive management will be essential to sustain these gains. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.