Comparison of Burning and Weed Barriers for Restoring Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) Nesting Habitat in the Gulf of Maine

Predicting and managing plant invasions on offshore islands

“…Non‐native plants increase the extinction risk of native plant species (Richardson & Ricciardi, 2013), as well as affecting animal populations. For example, spreading root systems may make it difficult for some species to dig burrows or nests (Cook, McCluskey, & Chambers, 2018; Leslie & Spotila, 2001), and where non‐native plant species replace native vegetation, nesting birds lose suitable nesting space (Feare, Gill, Carty, Carty, & Ayrton, 1997; Lamb, Hall, Kress, & Griffin, 2014). The Pilbara Islands are important for Australian fauna: 33 vertebrate species have been recorded on 14 of the 19 islands, in the Dampier Archipelago, Montebello and Onslow groups (Figure 1).…”

Erratum

“…The previous lack of documentation for such behavior is likely the result of Common Terns not normally nesting in close proximity to abandoned burrows. While Common Terns generally nest on flat islands or beaches with 10-40% vegetative cover (Lamb et al 2014;Nisbet et al 2017), Bank Swallows and many other burrowing birds require steep banks, such as those found naturally around eroded banks and natural bluffs or in anthropogenically manipulated environments such as quarries and road cuts (Garrison 1999). In this instance, the access to Bank Swallow burrows in the barren colony was possible due to: 1) the creation of a steep cliff face during mechanical excavation activity (removal of sand from stockpile); and 2) wind deposition of sand along the cliff face raising the ground level flush with some abandoned burrows.…”

“…For instance, Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) chicks have been reported to shelter in Wedge-tailed Shear- water (Puffinus pacificus) burrows (Dyer 1992), and Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) have been found to nest in rabbit burrows in which hatchlings will subsequently shelter (Spendelow 1982). As changes in climate, land use, and predator and invasive species distributions continue to reduce the amount of traditional breeding habitat available to Common Terns in North America (Cuthbert et al 2003;Erwin et al 2003;Lamb et al 2014), the ability of this species to successfully reproduce in non-traditional habitats will be critical. The opportunistic use of novel sources of shelter by chicks as observed in this and other studies demonstrates the potential for the young of this species to identify and use beneficial habitat features, and thus likely improve their chances of survival.…”