The mouths of four rivers are closed for vacationers during nesting of little terns / Article

The estuaries have been closed for the third year during nesting of shorebirds. And already in the first years, it was possible to observe individual pairs of birds visiting, feeding and exploring the enclosed areas of the estuary. It is possible that you will not be able to see them nesting in these estuaries this year either, because first the little terns need to regain trust in these areas as good and peaceful nesting places, DAP informed.

DAP explained that the left bank of the Gauja estuary is closed for active recreation. People can fully use the territory of the right bank and left bank of the estuary outside the fences. The estuaries of Irbe and Lūžnė can be easily bypassed along the adjacent Jūrtaka section. On the other hand, the territory of the mouth of Ķikana can be crossed only along the very edge of the sea.

The little tern is Latvia’s bird of the year 2024 and a critically endangered species, as currently less than 100 pairs nest in Latvia. The little tern builds its nest in the sand or pebbles of Liedaga, where it also lays its eggs and raises its young. Often the nests and brood completely blend in with the surrounding environment, so it goes unnoticed by the human eye. During nesting, birds are very sensitive to disturbance by humans and especially dogs, which negatively affects breeding, rearing of young and the population of the species.

Since the sands of Liedaga are the only home and nesting place for these birds, closing the specific mouths for the preservation of the species is the only chance for survival, emphasized DAP.

In the past, a significant colony of small terns was recorded at the mouth of the Gauja River, which tried to nest in this place for the last time in 2010. Unfortunately, the increase in the number of vacationers and also the presence of dogs released without a leash contributed to the extinction of the species. If it is possible to restore the former population of little terns, other species living in Liedag will nest alongside it, such as river and sand terns, river and sea terns, as well as sea terns, DAP said.