Fencing has been put in place at a seaside resort to protect newborn little terns.
Last year, a record 140 birds were born at Seaton Carew in Hartlepool.
About 40 volunteers from Durham Wildlife Trust and the Tees Wildlife Trust have helped put up protective wooden fencing on the beach.
Durham Wildlife Trust warden Derek Wood hopes this year will see an "even larger" number of little terns than ever before.
Derek said: "As the fencing was being put in place, we spotted two terns who had arrived three weeks earlier than we were expecting.
"It has now been erected and we are ready for our visitors.
"We hope we will see even more than last year and another great season."
Little terns, the smallest terns in the UK, typically leave Seaton Carew in mid to late August.
The species is currently classed as amber on the UK list of conservation concern.