Nest-site selection, nocturnal nest desertion, and productivity in a common tern ( sterna hirundo ) colony at Detroit River, Michigan

• Main Author: Norwood, Gregory J.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@EMU 2011
• Subjects: nest-site selection; nocturnal nest desertation; Sterna; Detroit River; colonial waterbirds; Biology; Detroit; Common tern; Sterna hirundo
• Online Access: https://commons.emich.edu/theses/346; https://commons.emich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1346&context=theses

Common terns are declining in the Great Lakes region and represent a population relatively distinct from that of eastern North America. On an artificial site, I studied the substrate and vegetation preference and productivity of nesting terns at two scales: general habitat and nest-site. Terns nested later and less successfully in large river rock (13 to 25-cm diameter) compared to more diverse substrate and limestone (2.5-5.0 cm) when it was free of dead vegetation. Within a habitat, terns chose to nest where substrate was most diverse in rock size, soil, and non-vegetative debris. Percent standing cover did not affect hatching success, but did have a positive effect on fledging success. I monitored predation and nocturnal desertion and determined the behavior was variable between pairs and the detection of a black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) predating chicks at night did not lengthen the nocturnal nest desertion time of common terns.