COMMON TERN (STERNA HIRUNDO) HATCHING SUCCESS RELATED TO NESTING PATTERN ON POPLAR ISLAND

Abstract

This study serves to understand how location within a colony may impact the successful hatching of a common tern nest. Previous research has shown that returning breeding birds will choose areas on the periphery of a colony near the water’s edge to nest, and that nest density and parental protection from predation are positively correlated. Research was conducted on Poplar Island, Maryland in a common tern colony to examine nesting patterns and changes throughout the nesting season. These data were then analyzed to determine if successful nests were randomly distributed throughout the colony or showed a clustered pattern. Results show that both failed and successful nests were distributed in clusters within the colony. This research can be used to understand the factors that contribute to breeding success in vulnerable water bird populations, as well as recognize potential areas for further research.