HI-TECH equipment is to be used to monitor Wales's last remaining colony of little terns. Night vision equipment is to be used at Gronant beach in North Wales to deter predators such as foxes from harming the vulnerable colony. From now until the end of July RSPB wardens and an army of volunteers will keep guard on the little terns at Gronant beach 24 hours a day. They battle with high tides, extreme weather conditions and night predators. Last year the colony suffered a particularly poor breeding season, so this year the RSPB is looking into alternative ways to help protect the 85 pairs. Night predators such as foxes can have particularly damaging effects on breeding success. This year the RSPB will be using new night sight equipment, similar to the armed forces, that allows the wardens to see the foxes in the pitch dark. The foxes can then be scared away. Gareth Stamp of the RSPB Dee Estuary said, "The little terns at Gronant beach are very vulnerable, we are hopeful that the new equipment will make our job easier and lead to a productive breeding season. We spend a lot of time and energy protecting the little terns." The colony at Gronant beach has grown from just 15 pairs in 1975. | 
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