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Mytern Booklet

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Mytern Booklet MyTern AUSTRALIA A po ck et g ui de t o th e te rn s of A us tr al ia Caspian Terns, Glenn Ehmke MyTern.indd 1 22/5/19 10:44 am Co nt en ts Introduction ......................................................... 3 General habitat .....................................................4 Nesting habitat ..................................................... 5 Chicks ................................................................. 6 Feeding strategies ................................................. 7 Threats ............................................................... 8 Tips for identifying similar-looking terns.................... 9 !"#$%#&R(")*[,#&(--------------------------------------------------(./ 0#)1&(%1(\%345(-----------------------------------------------------(67 8*1%5*)%13(5#)1&---------------------------------------------------9/ Counting techniques ............................................ 32 BirdLife Australia projects .....................................38 Ke y fo r sp ec ie s’ p ro fil es bp = breeding plumage nbp = non-breeding plumage juv = juvenile plumage Note: the size (cm) of each species refers to body length, the images are not drawn to scale, and the distribution maps are based on all species’ records in Australia (from BirdLife Australia Atlas data). 2 MyTern.indd 2 22/5/19 10:44 am In tr od uc ti on 04%&(:**;,#5(%&(<([#,=($*>"<1%*1(?*)(>*1%5*)%13(@A&5)<,%<1( terns. MyTern contains key information about the habitat, =%&5)%:A5%*1B(1#&5%13()#CA%)#>#15&(<1=(%=#15%[$<5%*1(*?(5#)1&- Terns are in the subfamily Sterninae and are closely related to gulls, but are smaller, slimmer and longer-tailed. Noddies are very closely related and appear similar to terns (but have a wedge-shaped tail and inverse colouration: light cap and dark body). Twenty species of terns and three species of noddies have been recorded in Australia, including migratory &"#$%#&( <1=( D<3)<15&-( 8*&5( 5#)1&( 4A15( [&4( *)( <)54)*"*=&( (insects and crustaceans) by diving, skimming the surface of the water, or on the wing. 0#)1&( <)#( <( &%31%[$<15( "<)5( *?( ><1E( ><)%1#( <1=( %&,<1=( ecosystems and are good indicators of ecosystem health, as they are high order predators. Terns are relatively easy to monitor due to their high visibility and they often occur in large groups at breeding and roosting sites. Three species of terns are presently threatened at the state, national and/or international level; these are the Little Tern, Fairy Tern and Roseate Tern. Monitoring of these species is important for identifying threats and population trends to aid their conservation. Crested Terns, Dean Ingwersen 3 MyTern.indd 3 22/5/19 10:44 am Ge ne ra l ha bi ta t Terns depend on aquatic and terrestrial environments for their survival. Put simply, they mostly feed offshore or close to water but roost and breed on land. Terns can breed on: #( ocean beaches (above the high tide mark) #( cliffs #( )*$;E(\<5&( #( sand dunes #( estuarine foreshores #( islands #( freshwater inland wetlands Terns tend to nest in exposed and open areas to look out for danger, and they mostly nest near water. Outside their breeding colonies, terns can be found in roosts, which are a congregation of all ages and reproductive conditions. Terns can roost on beaches, sand banks, spits and islets. Depending on the species, foraging occurs over pelagic waters (pelagic species like Bridled and Sooty Terns have long wings for foraging in these areas), coastal waters, in #&5A<)%#&B(&4*<,&B(5%=<,(,<3**1&B(?)#&4G<5#)(,<;#&B(>A=\<5&B( \**=#=()%$#[#,=&(<1=("<&5A)#&- Gull-billed Terns, Charles Dove 4 MyTern.indd 4 22/5/19 10:44 am Ne st in g ha bi ta t Most terns nest in a shallow depression on the ground in bare sand, soil or mud. Nests may also be among rocks or low plants. They can be sparsely lined with plant matter, feathers, stones and shells. Some Little Tern nest, Charles Dove species also surround their nest with debris and vegetation. Plants used for nesting include seaweed, saltbush, beach daisy and pigface. More unusual nest placement occurs in some species: Whiskered Terns 1#&5(*1(<()<?5(*?(D#3#5<5%*1(H\*<5%13( or moored); White Terns and noddies build their nests in trees and low bushes. Sooty Tern on nest, Andrew Silcocks Most species produce a single clutch "#)(&#<&*1(H.MJ(#33&K(=A)%13(&")%13(<1=(&A>>#)-(L*54(&#M#&( %1$A:<5#(54#(#33&(H?*)(N9/(=<E&K(<1=($<)#(?*)(54#%)(E*A13-( Tern eggs are generally grey-brown and speckled to blend in with their surroundings. Among species, eggs range in size ?)*>(<(6/O$#15($*%1(5*(<($4%$;#1(#33- Some species occasionally nest solitarily, but most nest %1( &><,,( $*,*1%#&( HPM6//Q( #-3-( R<%)E( 0#)1KB( G4%,&5( *54#)&( nest in large colonies, sometimes in the thousands (e.g. Crested Tern). Black-naped Tern, Fairy Tern, Nicole Andrews Dean Ingwersen 5 MyTern.indd 5 22/5/19 10:44 am Ch ic ks Tern chicks are semi-precocial: born well developed, feathered and with their eyes open. The downy chicks are grey, brown- :,<$;(*)(:A??(%1($*,*A)(<1=(>*55,#=(5*($<>*A\<3#(G%54(54#%)( surroundings. For most tern species, chicks rely entirely on 54#%)( "<)#15&( 5*( ")*D%=#( ?**=( <1=( &4#,5#)( ?*)( 54#( [)&5( ?*A)( G##;&-(@?5#)(54<5(54#E(<)#(<,>*&5(?A,,E(3)*G1(<1=($<1(\E(<1=( forage independently. During the chick phase, parents take turns foraging and feeding the chicks, either at the nest or close to the nesting area. Older chicks may gather in loose groups called crèches; this behaviour is typical for species such as the Crested Tern. Stages of Little Tern development. Top left: The clutch hatches over a 24 4*A)("#)%*=-(S1(54#([)&5(%><3#B(*1#($4%$;(4<&(4<5$4#=(4*A)&(#<),%#)(<1=(%&(=)E( <1=(\A??EB(G4%,#(54#(&#$*1=(#33(4<&(<($)<$;(<""#<)%13-( Top right: The second chick is still wet following hatching, and the third egg is yet to hatch. Bottom left: (@(E*A13B(\%345,#&&($4%$;(%&($<,,%13(?*)(?**=B(<G<%5%13(%5&("<)#15R&()#5A)1-( Bottom right: (@($4%$;($,*&#(5*(\#=3%13-(T4*5*&(:E(U4<),#&(V*D#- 6 MyTern.indd 6 22/5/19 10:44 am Fe ed in g st ra te gi es Hover and plunge: Most tern &"#$%#&( 4*D#)( H<5( 6M.P>K( over the water, with their body horizontal and bill pointing down, and then plunge to capture their prey (sometimes submerging completely). This is done over shallow coastal waters, just beyond the surf zone, over pelagic waters, or near rocks, reefs and submerged seagrass beds. Some species might also hover and dive to take prey over wetlands and marshlands. Little Tern, Charles Dove Dipping: Some species dip %1( \%345( 5*( $<"5A)#( 54#%)( ")#E( over the water or just below its surface. This strategy can <,&*(:#(A&#=(*D#)(>A=(\<5&(*)( $A,5%D<5#=([#,=&-( White-fronted Tern, Charles Dove Aerial hawking: Some species, such as the Whiskered Tern or White-winged Black Tern, can feed by aerial hawking (feeding on the wing). Whiskered Tern, Andrew Silcocks 7 MyTern.indd 7 22/5/19 10:44 am Th re at s #( Disturbance of breeding colonies leading to abandonment of eggs and chicks #( Rubbish on land or in the water can cause entanglements, be ingested or attract predators #( Predation of adults, chicks and eggs by feral and domestic cats and dogs, foxes and rats #( Predation of eggs and chicks by native Silver Gulls, crows, ravens and pelicans, often as a result of human disturbance to nesting birds #( Habitat loss from coastal development, invasive plants and sea-level rise #( V#",#5%*1( *?( ")#E( 54)*A34( *D#)[&4%13B( 4<:%5<5( ,*&&B( climate change and/or poor water quality Fairy Terns, Bill Betts Recreation vs. Procreation! Tern nesting sites may look like any old stretch of beach to us, but they are often located strategically: close to feeding grounds and protected from the prevailing weather conditions. When their nesting sites overlap with popular recreation areas, the terns cannot simply move to a new location to nest. Human disturbance is a major cause *?(=#&#)5%*1(<1=(?<%,A)#(<5(&*>#(5#)1($*,*1%#&Q("<)#15(:%)=&(G%,,(\##( the nest and expose their eggs and chicks to predators, and eggs may also be crushed by people or recreational vehicles. For humans to coexist with tern colonies, we may have to adjust where and when we swim, walk, exercise dogs, picnic, drive off-road vehicles or bird- watch for a short period of the year - a simple solution that could save our seabirds from extinction. 8 MyTern.indd 8 22/5/19 10:44 am Ti ps f or i de nt if yi ng s im il ar -l oo ki ng t er ns Fairy Tern !" Sturdy bill, all yellow Little Tern !" Long thin bill, yellow Breeding !" Thicker white line on (bp) with black tip plumage (bp) upper edge of folded !" The black eye line primaries* reaches the bill !" Bulkier Fairy Tern !" Paler upperparts Little Tern !" Darker carpal bar* Non-breeding !" Wing tips only (nbp) !" Cap more receded plumage slightly darker than !" Dark wing tips, (nbp) rest of wing (all 1*5%$#<:,#(%1(\%345(H<,,( seasons) seasons) Australian !" Continuous Common !" Broken black eye mark Gull-billed elongated black eye Gull-billed !" @"")*M%><5#,E(6/W( mark Tern Tern smaller !" White cap streaked !" Looks similar to (macrotarsa ) black (!"[$%& ) macrotarsa when eclipse !" Paler upperparts eclipse breeding, but only !" Heavier bill in breeding plumage !" Stand taller, longer March/April legs Whiskered !" Slightly heavier bill White- !" Distinct black Tern (nbp) !" Less distinct eye winged ‘headphone’ mark ><);B([1%&4%13(<5( Black Tern behind eye (comes below eye line) eye line (nbp) !" Paler rump !" Lighter and buoyant %1(\%345( !" Slightly smaller White- !" Thicker white line on Common !" Shorter bill fronted Tern upper edge of folded Tern (nbp) !"
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