Re: [CT Birds] Roseates

[MATTHEW MALE via CTBirds]

There should be an increase of both Common and Roseate Terns along the CT and LI coasts as the Tern Colony at Great Gull Island is experiencing a shortage of Forage Fish being brought back to colony by the Terns. In the last weeks the Terns seem to be having difficulty finding fish within their diving range at the east end of LIS. This is a mass starvation event, over 1000 deceased young Terns were recovered from the colony on Thursday alone.

Faulkner’s Island is experiencing similar problems, as well as more similar reports from colonies further north.A large number of adult Terns have already left Great Gull,abandoning the colony. There are reports of large groups of Common Terns in unusual places as far South as NJ.
Shallower waters alongshore give the Terns more reliable foraging areas,but unfortunately they have to fly further from their nesting colonies.

This is just to alert all interested that this is happening. I don’t have any answers as to Why this is happening. Might be related to increase in water temperature in LIS or something else. If you see large numbers of Terns in unusual places you might want to post it.

Reports from Great Gull last night was that they might be seeing a slight increase in fish being brought back to colony, well see if that helps slow down the mortality.

Matthew Male
Chester,CT
malem...@comcast.net

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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2019 12:06:

Message: 4
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2019 18:08:03 -0400
From: Nick Bonomo<nbo...@gmail.com>
To: CTBirds<ctb...@lists.ctbirding.org>
Subject: [CT Birds] 7/12 coast (Roseates)
Message-ID:
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Today I hit a few coastal spots in Stratford, Milford, West Haven, Old
Saybrook and Old Lyme. It was slow, with shorebird numbers and diversity
below average for the date, but it is early in the season. Common Terns
were evident throughout. ROSEATE TERNS were seen at the Milford/Stratford
breakwater (1), Cornfield Point in Old Saybrook (1), and along the Old Lyme
coast (12). A bright 'hendersoni' Short-billed Dowitcher was at Sandy Point
with two of the expected 'griseus' subspecies.

Nick Bonomo
Wallingford, CT

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[C Wood via CTBirds]

In fact, i reported an unusually high count (according to eBird) of Roseates fishing the west breakwater at Hammonasset last Wednesday; estimated at least 12 at the west end (most that I saw close were banded) plus at least three at Meigs Point. Also one Least Tern fishing the Swan Pond.

eBird list here https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S58082006 <https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S58082006>

Tern photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/with/48264786601/ <https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/with/48264786601/>

Today at the Cockonoe tern colony there appeared to be far fewer birds compared to a month ago (well over 200 then; see https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/48032864293/in/datetaken-public/ <https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/48032864293/in/datetaken-public/>), although I don’t track them regularly, maybe Tina has data; they were actively fishing up the Saugatuck and off Sherwood Island and bringing fish to fledglings but I saw maybe only 30 adults and 10 or so chicks from one boat trip around the colony.

Chris Wood
Woodbury, CT
203 558-0654

Flickr: C.S.Wood-Photos <https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/>
Blog: WoodWarbling <http://cswood022.blogspot.com/?m=0>

[Tina and Peter Green via CTBirds]

Earlier in the season there were 158 Common Tern Nests at the Cockenoe Island colony (exact count per Miley Bull and the DEEP crew doing the colonial waterbird survey). There has been plenty of food for the Terns in the Westport area this year. Last year the colony failed due to lack of food and also possibly high storm tides. On June 17th there were 12 Roseate Terns roosting with the Common Terns at the colony but have not seen any Roseates since then.I am guessing that many juvenile Common Terns have already left the colony, hence the lower numbers Chris.
I have not been out there in over two weeks but I watch the activity from Compo Beach.

Tina Green
Westport
Sent from my iPhone