Tuscany little tern breeding season sees high nest failure rates

The 2026 breeding season for the little tern along the Tuscan coast has concluded with significant challenges for the endangered species. According to the annual report from the Centro Ornitologico Toscano (COT), there was a high failure rate in nest development.

Out of 27 identified nests, only 10 chicks successfully fledged. Despite this decline, the COT noted increased awareness among beachgoers regarding the protection of the delicate dune ecosystem. The monitoring efforts were part of the European ‘Life Alexandro’ project, involving collaborations between environmental associations like Lipu, Legambiente, and WWF, as well as local authorities and the Carabinieri.