In order to restore the little tern population in Carnikava, movement on the left bank of the Gauja estuary will be restricted from 1 May to 31 July for the fifth year running. During this period, visitors and dog owners are asked to choose other places to walk, thereby ensuring peace and undisturbed conditions for the nesting of specially protected coastal birds.

The Gauja estuary is a critically important home to several specially protected bird species, including common terns, little ringed plovers and Kentish plovers. A significant colony of little terns was also recorded here in the past, which last attempted to nest at this site in 2010. An increase in the number of people and the presence of dogs let off the lead contributed to the disappearance of the species, and so the land area and the beach on the left bank of the estuary are currently fenced off, with information signs and boards placed there.

During the specified period, it will be prohibited to move through this zone on foot, by bicycle or by motor vehicle. The restrictions apply both to the land area and to the beach, while residents and visitors can still use the right bank of the Gauja and the area of the left bank outside the fencing for walks. Similar restrictions are also being introduced on the Kurzeme coast during the nesting season, restricting movement along the estuaries of the Ķikans, Irbe and Lūžņa rivers.

Observations show that the periods of quiet that have been introduced are producing results – in 2024 and 2025, little terns were observed in the Gauja estuary, as well as common terns, sandwich terns and little ringed plovers, which actively use the coast and appreciate the peace to be found there.

“We are particularly pleased about the presence of little terns in the Gauja estuary in recent years. Although the birds currently use this site mainly for feeding, undisturbed conditions during the nesting season are decisive – only if they find the environment calm and safe might they return here to stay and start nesting again. Experience shows that it takes several years before birds once again choose their historical nesting sites, so we call on everyone to be understanding and not to disturb these rare coastal birds at the time when they most need peace,” emphasises Gita Strode, Director of the Nature Protection Department at the Nature Conservation Agency.

Birds that nest on the beach lay their eggs directly in the sand of the shoreline, making a small hollow. The clutch often blends in completely with its surroundings and goes unnoticed by the human eye, so it is easy to trample on it accidentally. Moreover, the chicks of these birds are nidifugous – soon after hatching they leave the nest and follow their parents. At this stage the chicks cannot yet fly, so they can become easy prey for dogs. Even if there is no physical contact, the birds perceive the presence of a person or an animal as a threat, as a result of which the adult birds abandon their nests, while the chicks stray from their parents as they flee and perish.