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Current Status:

Since its listing in 1987, the nesting population of roseate terns on the northeast coast had increased slightly to more than 3,000 pairs, but then declined by nearly 700 pairs in 1992 due to unknown causes. Disease, pollution, storms, or predation could inflict irreparable damage on the population, 90 percent of which nests at only two colonies. Competition for nesting space with an expanding population of gulls has forced roseate terns to nest in concentrated colonies or attempt to nest on unsuitable islands. Unidentified mortality factors away from the nesting grounds, presumably in wintering areas along the northern coast of South America, are exceptionally high and offset the reproductive success at managed nesting colonies. About half of the birds nest in Massachusetts, most on a single small island in Buzzards Bay.

Achievements:

Selected islands are being restored as tern breeding grounds, in part by controlling the gulls that prey on tern eggs and compete with roseate terns for nesting space. In addition, structures such as open-sided nesting boxes have been used to increase fledging success where predatory birds are a problem. Signs and fencing have been used to deter human disturbance at nesting sites.

Current Recovery Needs:

In Massachusetts, the top recovery priorities are to reestablish a second colony in Buzzards Bay and rebuild productive colonies on lower Cape Cod. Monitoring nesting sites and longterm research on population dynamics must continue. A well-planned survey to locate wintering grounds, followed by evaluation of mortality factors, is essential.

Section 6 Funding and Activities:

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife received $12,000 in both FY 1991 and FY 1992 for the gull removal program.

Partnerships

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife: The agency is continuing to remove gulls and monitor their populations.

Massachusetts Audubon Society and Manomet Bird Observatory: These organizations are researching roseate tern productivity, mortality factors, and feeding ecology.

Recovery Plan Status:

Plan approved 3/20/89.