Half a century protecting vulnerable seabirds
Video by Kell Sharpe
For 50 years, wardens and volunteers at Spurn Bird Observatory have worked to protect little terns at Beacon Ponds, near Kilnsea, helping one of the UK's most vulnerable seabirds breed on the Humber.
They offer daily protection, fencing, monitoring and public engagement to support the colony. The team spend long days in all weathers protecting the birds, monitoring nests and chicks, and talking to visitors.
The project is a finalist in the BBC Radio Humberside Make a Difference Awards 2026 in the Environment category.
