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Breeding Range. (Fig. 76). Nesting colonies are of local occurrence on the Missouri Coteau (in Burke, McLean, Burleigh, Kidder, Stutsman, and Logan Counties), on the Northwestern Drift Plain (in Ward, Renville, McHenry, and Bottineau Counties), and in the Turtle Mountains (in Bottineau and Rolette Counties). Formerly, colonies also were located on Devils Lake and Stump Lake (in Benson, Ramsey, and Nelson Counties).

Information concerning the size of certain colonies is indicated as follows:

Devils Lake--In 1894, E. S. Bryant observed several hundred pairs nesting on an island in the west end of Devils Lake. According to Rolfe (1896a), baskets of eggs were collected for meals that were served by a local hotel. In 1897, about 2,000 adults were found nesting on a 2-acre island west of Graham's Island in Benson County (Bishop egg collection catalog, Peabody Museum). Many hundreds were nesting on an island in 1898 (Rolfe 1899b). Large colonies were still present in 1915 (R. Kellogg) and 1920 (Wood 1923).

Stump Lake--In 1901, three islands were occupied by colonies (Job 1902). Alfred Eastgate recorded about 800 active nests in 1909 and hundreds of nests in 1910. Large colonies were still present in 1920 (Wood 1923).

J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge--Colonies were first established on newly constructed gravel islands in 1937 (Henry 1939), and in 1947 about 250 active nests were found on one island (Henry 1948).

Chase Lake, Stutsman County--Two colonies, containing about 100 and 75 active nests, respectively, were present in 1963 (RES).

Breeding Habitat. Nesting colonies are located on isolated, sparsely vegetated islands in large lakes, large reservoirs, and large, shallow impoundments of rivers that are managed for waterfowl. Breeding adults often travel up to 10 miles or more to neighboring lakes while searching for food.

Nesting. Breeding season: Late May to mid-August; peak, early June to late July. At Stump Lake on May 23, 1898, a colony appeared to be well established but laying had not yet begun (Job 1898). Extreme egg dates (hundreds of nests): June 8 [1894] in Ramsey County (E. S. Bryant), and June 8 [1966] to July 28 [1962] in Stutsman County (RES). Extreme dates of dependent young (hundreds of young): June 22 [1901] in Nelson County (Job 1902) to July 31 [1971] in Benson County (P. F. Springer). Flying young were recorded in Nelson County on July 25, 1920 (Wood 1923).

Indicated clutch size (93 nests): 2 to 4 eggs; mean, 2.8 eggs.

Figure 76. Breeding Range of Common Tern.

Common Tern on nest. McLean County, June 1964 (photo by Ed Bry).