Nest failure of most pairs of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) at Falkner Island, Connecticut, in 2002–2003 (due mainly to predation by Black-crowned Night-herons [Nycticorax nycticorax]) was followed by the rapid departure of many of the failed individuals in both years. Nine failed pairs (16.7%) stayed while 40 (74.1%) of 54 unsuccessful pairs left within 2 d following nest failure in 2002, and 7 pairs (21.9%) stayed while 25 (78.1%) of 32 unsuccessful pairs left within 2 d in 2003. Individuals that departed this colony site by the end of June likely had time to prospect and renest at another colony site in the same year, and individuals that successfully renested at another colony site could have shown reduced colony-site fidelity to Falkner Island in subsequent years.
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1 June 2018
Rapid departure of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) following large-scale nest failure
Jeffrey A. Spendelow,
Adam J. Eichenwald
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The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Vol. 130 • No. 2
June 2018
Vol. 130 • No. 2
June 2018
Black-crowned Night-Heron
breeding dispersal
nest failure
nest predation
Nycticorax nycticorax
Roseate Tern
Sterna dougallii