Migration flyway of the Mediterranean breeding Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis emigratus

Abstract

The Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis emigratus) breeding population in the Mediterranean is found exclusively in Libya, on the two coastal islands of Gara and Elba and one wetland on the mainland coast at Benghazi. In order to improve knowledge of the species migration to wintering quarters in West Africa, a ringing programme was initiated in 2006 and continued until 2012. From a total of 1354 nestlings ringed using metal and/or colour rings, 64 were recovered along their flyway and in their wintering range, representing 6.90% of birds ringed with both colour and metal rings. This provided the opportunity to collect information on post-natal movements (staging and wintering ranges), breeding philopatry and recruitment, in addition to a preliminary estimation of their migration journey duration. This paper indicates

The Diet of the West African Crested Tern Unveiled by an Analysis of Otoliths Collected Over 20 Years along Its Main Breeding Sites

“…Diet composition seems to be more varied as well. In Lesser Crested Terns Sterna bengalensis breeding in Libya, 29 fish species were found in chick regurgitations with Round Sardinella Sardinella aurita (16.8%) being the commonest species (Hamza 2014). In an eight-year diet of Greater Crested Terns breeding in West Australia, Surman & Wooller (2003) found 36 fish families (51 species) in regurgitates of breeding adults.…”