FEDERALLY ENDANGERED STATE ENDANGERED Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) Stephan Repasky Description close to good foraging areas. Of the 3,000 islands Roseate terns are graceful seabirds (length 15 off the coast of Maine, at least 150 have been used inches, wingspan 31 inches) with pointed wings and by nesting terns in the last century. In recent years, long, forked tails. They are very similar in appear- only 4-6 islands have been used by roseate terns. ance to arctic and common terns. Roseates are distinguished by their voices, the lack of a black Life History and Ecology trailing edge on the underwings, and shorter wings. First breeding is generally at 2-4 years old. After At the beginning of the breeding season their bills roseate terns breed for the first time, they are highly are entirely black, but a salmon-red color develops faithful to a nesting island, returning to the same along the basal third as the season progresses. In the breeding colony year after year. They arrive at breeding season, they have white bellies that can be breeding islands in Maine in mid-May. Roseates pair washed with a rosy tinge (hence their name); light with a single mate, but may exchange mates from gray bodies; and white rumps and tails. Like other year to year. After a three-week period of courtship, terns, they have black caps and napes, and their legs 1-5 (average 2) eggs are laid in mid-May to mid- and feet are bright reddish-orange. June. The nest is a simple scrape in dense vegetation or under rocks or driftwood. Both adults incubate Range and Habitat eggs, and chicks hatch in about 23 days. The chicks Roseate terns nest in temperate and tropical stay close to the nest site and are fed by the parents marine habitats throughout the northern hemi- for 22-30 days before they fledge. sphere. The North American subspecies breeds in Roseate terns feed on small fish, and sand lance two distinct groups: the Northeast population, predominates in the diet in the Northeast. In Maine, which breeds from the white hake, four bearded rockling, herring, and Magdalen Islands of pollock are also taken. Roseates forage by plunging Quebec south to Long into the water and catching small fish with their Island in New York, bills. They favor fishing over shallow sand shoals and and a population in the tide rips. During August and early September, large Caribbean Sea. Both flocks of roseates can be observed at migratory populations winter in staging areas (inlets, barrier beaches, and islands, South America from usually adjacent to good food sources). The longev- Colombia to Brazil. ity record for a roseate tern is 25 years. Roseate terns nest exclusively in marine Threats environments on The primary factors affecting tern populations islands, barrier beaches, in Maine are gull predation, habitat loss, human Range in Maine and salt marsh islands. disturbance, and food shortages. Herring and great Known locations Nesting islands are black-backed gulls arrive on nesting islands earlier Maines Endangered and Threatened Wildlife ©2003 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife • than terns, occupy the best nesting areas, and drive Maine Natural Resource Protection Act, or as terns away. Tern eggs, chicks, and even adults are Protection Fish and Wildlife areas under the Land taken by gulls. Laughing gulls, which nest in close Use Regulation Commission. Because of Essential association with terns, have increased rapidly on Habitat designation, all projects or activities funded some islands, driving terns from prime nesting and carried out by municipalities and state agencies habitat and taking some eggs and chicks. Habitat within ¼ mile of roseate tern nesting islands are on some islands has been lost because of the con- reviewed by MDIFW. struction of permanent or seasonal dwellings. Human disturbance on islands can cause nest and Recommendations: chick abandonment and increase gull predation. ✔ Protect seabird nesting islands and adjacent Terns feed on the immature forms of many com- waters from further development, especially human mercial fish like herring and hake. Commercial dwellings, fishing piers, docks, and aquaculture fisherman may compete with roseate terns for food. facilities. Review Essential Habitat maps and Nesting productivity is low in years of poor food guidelines prior to development near roseate tern availability or adverse weather conditions (rain, fog) islands. Consult with a biologist from MDIFW and that prevent terns from finding food. the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to assist with planning. Conservation and Management ✔ Municipalities should strive to prevent develop- By 1890, roseate terns in the Northeast were ment of seabird nesting islands and adjacent waters reduced to about 2,000 pairs because of overharvest and identify these areas in comprehensive plans. for the millinery trade (decorating ladies’ hats). Consider protecting a ¼ mile buffer around seabird Although most nesting islands were abandoned nesting islands. during this period, at least four sizable colonies ✔ Use voluntary agreements, conservation ease- survived. With the passage of migratory bird laws in ments, conservation tax abatements and incentives, the early 1900s, roseate numbers rebounded. The and acquisition to protect important habitat for Northeast population peaked in the 1930s at about threatened and endangered species. 8,500 pairs. Maine’s population was never very ✔ Stay off seabird nesting islands during the large, reaching about 275 pairs in 1931. Since the nesting season (April 1 to August 15). If visitation is 1940s, roseate numbers have declined throughout approved (e.g., commercial tours to a seabird their range because of predation and competition by island), remain on designated paths and in blinds to increasing gull populations. By 1977, only 2,300 minimize disturbance. pairs remained in the Northeast. This population ✔ Keep boat activity more than 660 feet from was listed as endangered in 1987 by the federal seabird nesting islands. If birds flush from the island, government. Maine’s population dwindled to 52 you’re too close. pairs in 1987, the year after it was listed as endan- ✔ Keep all pets off islands. Do not introduce gered by the state. The roseate tern is also listed as mammalian predators. endangered in Canada. ✔ Locate aquaculture facilities farther than ¼ mile Recovery of Maine’s tern populations (arctic, from seabird nesting islands. common, and roseate) has required intensive man- ✔ Avoid overfishing and polluting nursery areas for agement on a few nesting islands. Ten Maine herring, hake, and other fish stocks important as nesting islands are currently managed for terns. On food for seabirds. each of these islands, gulls are removed or con- ✔ Do not use gill nets near seabird islands or trolled, decoys and sound recordings of colonies are known feeding areas. used to attract nesting terns, and tern managers live ✔ Do not dump oil, litter, or waste overboard. on the islands during the nesting season to deter Even small amounts of oil can kill birds. Seabirds predators and control human disturbance. Roseate are often injured by eating plastic particles from tern numbers have responded well to management, trash that are mistaken for food. and about 289 pairs nested on four islands in the ✔ Avoid overboard discharge of fish waste or bait. state in 2001. Most of Maine’s breeding population Predatory gull populations have increased because nests at only two or three islands, and the birds have of this readily available supply of food. yet to recolonize many of their former nesting areas. Roseate tern nesting islands are designated as Essential Habitats under the Maine Endangered Species Act, Significant Wildlife Habitats under the • For more information: MDIFW Endangered Species Program • 207-941-4466 • www.mefishwildlife.com •.