A NEW warden is ready to swoop in and be the wind beneath the wings of some of the UK’s rarest seabirds.

Jake Taylor-Bruce will live in a caravan on Foulney Island, off the coast of Barrow, for the summer to make sure Little terns have everything they need to prosper.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic for the first time since 1973, Cumbria Wildlife Trust was unable to have a warden at Foulney Island Nature Reserve in 2020.

And as a result the terns had a terrible year with none successfully nesting. This year, the trust is hoping to give the birds the best chance possible.

This will mean living on the island full-time in a caravan, which compared to some of his previous accommodation, Mr Taylor-Bruce said was ‘luxurious’.

“I just absolutely love it, and I love places like this,” the 27-year-old said.

“The Little terns are our second rarest seabird in the UK so being able to work in this place with these animals people never get to see is such a privileged position.

“Living in these remote locations in this type of accommodation is definitely something most people would find challenging, but it is something I have become accustomed to.

“It is quite luxurious compared to some of my previous accommodation.

"My first job like this was in 2017 where I stayed in a tent for months. I have everything I need right here.”

The job will vary from building fences, talking to visitors and counting birds and nesting, but Jake is most looking forward to seeing the bird population develop and working with volunteers.

The Cornwall native has previously worked on the Farne Islands, Handa Island in Scotland, and in the Azores.

He will be helped by dedicated volunteers from Morecambe Bay Partnership who will be on hand to talk to visitors and show them the rare little and Arctic terns that call Foulney Island home for the summer.

During the bird breeding season (April 1 – August 15) access is restricted to designated paths and Slitch Ridge is closed.

No dogs (except assistance dogs) are allowed on the island.