In Castelló d'Empúries, a pair of little terns has laid eggs and is now incubating them on Can Comes beach, inside Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park. It is the first positive result reported since the beach was permanently closed to the public.
The nesting matters because little terns breed directly on sand, where foot traffic, dogs, mechanical cleaning and other disturbance can reduce breeding success. The species is known in Catalan as xatrac menut.
Can Comes was closed to help create a safer space for vulnerable coastal birds. The return of the species to this site, after a long absence, points to the value of limiting human interference during the breeding season.
Park authorities will continue to monitor the nesting site so the eggs have the best chance of hatching and the chicks of surviving. The work forms part of broader conservation efforts in the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park to protect birdlife and coastal habitats.
For more local coverage, see our news page. For background on the protected area, visit the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park site and the Generalitat de Catalunya environment department.