An area on the South Shore known as Longtails' Nest is becoming more like "Pigeons' Nest" as Bermuda's so-called symbol of spring comes increasingly under threat.

With numbers of white-tailed tropicbirds continuously falling, residents in Southampton West Central say the much-loved birds face more challenging times than ever as feral pigeons appear to be starting to rule the roost.

One resident told The Royal Gazette: "Longtails are most definitely under threat if they are loath to go where the pigeons go. There's growing numbers of pigeons, no question about it.

"To lose those birds would be criminal. There's so many people that look for them each year and so many people that enjoy them, including ourselves. My wife and I have an ongoing bet to see who can spot the first one each year."

Recent calculations say Bermuda has an estimated one-fifth of the world's longtail population, with the adults arriving in good weather and leaving in bad.

However, they've seen their habitat under attack from development and natural events such as hurricanes and cliff collapses. Numbers have fallen from around 10,000-plus pairs in primeval times to 3,000 pairs in 1975 and 2,000 pairs today.

Up Your Street visited an area dubbed Longtails' Nest, near Church Bay, where problems have been made even worse by fly-tipping; we saw televisions and DVD players dumped in areas where longtails might have been able to nest.

Bermuda Audubon Society president Andrew Dobson said: "The white-tailed tropicbird or 'longtail' as we have come to know it has slowly been declining due to coastal development and the destruction of the limestone cliffs around much of the Island.

"These birds nest in natural cracks and hollows found in our cliff faces. As the availability of these cavities becomes fewer, they begin to fight over the remaining available space or choose less suitable sites leaving themselves vulnerable to predation and or flooding.

"Natural events such as hurricanes and the associated storm surge have led to cliff collapse and the destruction of nest holes that had taken years and years to form. These events are only likely to occur more frequently with global warming and higher sea level.

"In addition to loss of habitat they have suffered competition with feral pigeons, plus predation or invasion by feral cats and dogs."

Mr. Dobson said the Audubon Society supplies artificial nests for longtails: dome-like igloos made from styrofoam coated with tough materials for the harsh marine environment.

He added: "The general public can help at this time of the year by cleaning out longtail nest holes on their property to check the nest holes for garbage or pigeons. Ideally the nest hole should have a sandy base."