2012 Tern 2012 Tern (Bird )Training: (Bird )Training:

Minimizing Negative Minimizing Negative Impacts to Nesting Impacts to Nesting

Birds at Maryland Port Birds at Maryland Port Administration/MarylanAdministration/Marylan

d Environmental d Environmental Service FacilitiesService Facilities

U.S Fish and Wildlife U.S Fish and Wildlife ServiceService

Chesapeake Bay Field Chesapeake Bay Field OfficeOffice

2012 MES Tern Training 2012 MES Tern Training Why Bother?Why Bother?

• • Just about all birds, with exception of a few Just about all birds, with exception of a few (i.e. House Sparrow, Starling, Mute Swan) are (i.e. House Sparrow, Starling, Mute Swan) are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

• • MBTA: Illegal to destroy nests and their MBTA: Illegal to destroy nests and their contents, or disturb nests.contents, or disturb nests.

• • Heavy fines can be imposed $15,000 and or 6 Heavy fines can be imposed $15,000 and or 6 month jail time possible.month jail time possible.

• • Bird Conservation/minimizing impacts to Bird Conservation/minimizing impacts to nesting birdsnesting birds

What Can I Do?What Can I Do?

• • Be observant, notice the behaviors of birds on Be observant, notice the behaviors of birds on site; variety of habitats present.site; variety of habitats present.

• • What to look for, examples include:What to look for, examples include:

• • Large concentrations of birds in a given area Large concentrations of birds in a given area (on ground and in the air).(on ground and in the air).

• • Birds staying tight on a an area, reluctant to Birds staying tight on a an area, reluctant to take flight or leave when approached.take flight or leave when approached.

• • Excessive vocalization when approached.Excessive vocalization when approached.

• • False displays such as being wounded or False displays such as being wounded or acting as though nesting when flushed.acting as though nesting when flushed.

When to NotifyWhen to Notify

• • Notify Environmental Unit leader when the Notify Environmental Unit leader when the above observations are made, particularly above observations are made, particularly during the nesting season (spring and during the nesting season (spring and summer). summer).

• • Remember that just about all birds are Remember that just about all birds are federally and state protected through the federally and state protected through the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

• • Upon confirmation of nesting, onsite workers Upon confirmation of nesting, onsite workers should be briefed on where nesting areas are should be briefed on where nesting areas are located and reminded that entry into these located and reminded that entry into these areas is restricted.areas is restricted.

Colonial WaterbirdsColonial Waterbirds

• • Can be problematic due to the high numbers of birds Can be problematic due to the high numbers of birds in a given area (i.e. Common Tern and Least Tern).in a given area (i.e. Common Tern and Least Tern).

• • Area of concern should searched by two or Area of concern should searched by two or more individuals walking in transects more individuals walking in transects approximately 5 m apart. approximately 5 m apart.

• • Travel through the search area should be Travel through the search area should be slow, continuously looking where each step is slow, continuously looking where each step is placed. Nests can be easily overlooked and placed. Nests can be easily overlooked and trampled. Upon discovery of each nest a pin trampled. Upon discovery of each nest a pin flag should be placed near the nest (<1 m). flag should be placed near the nest (<1 m).

Colonial Waterbirds Cont’dColonial Waterbirds Cont’d

• • After an area is searched and no further nests After an area is searched and no further nests are found, the boundaries of the colony should are found, the boundaries of the colony should marked by highly visible markers such as large marked by highly visible markers such as large orange cones and the nest flags removed. orange cones and the nest flags removed.

• • Search activities should be no more than 20 Search activities should be no more than 20 minutes, and should take place early in the day minutes, and should take place early in the day when temperatures are cooler. Searches when temperatures are cooler. Searches should not be made when it is raining. should not be made when it is raining.

• • The area should be made off-limits to onsite The area should be made off-limits to onsite personnel, particularly equipment and vehicles. personnel, particularly equipment and vehicles. USFWS/MDNR should be notified when colonial USFWS/MDNR should be notified when colonial waterbird nesting is occurring on site.waterbird nesting is occurring on site.

• • Usually not as problematic as colonial Usually not as problematic as colonial waterbirdswaterbirds(Killdeer, Willet, Black-neck Stilt, American (Killdeer, Willet, Black-neck Stilt, American Oystercatcher)Oystercatcher)

• • Nests of these species when located near roads, Nests of these species when located near roads, or heavily traveled areas should be marked with or heavily traveled areas should be marked with flags or small cones etc. flags or small cones etc.

• • Relocating nests does work for some species Relocating nests does work for some species such as Killdeer as long as the nest is not moved such as Killdeer as long as the nest is not moved more than 2-3 m from original location. more than 2-3 m from original location.

• • Onsite personnel cannot move nests, a federal Onsite personnel cannot move nests, a federal and state permit is required. (exception is for and state permit is required. (exception is for osprey).osprey).

Non-Colonial WaterbirdsNon-Colonial Waterbirds

• • If an osprey tries to nest on a piece If an osprey tries to nest on a piece of equipment, building or other of equipment, building or other undesirable object, the nest can be undesirable object, the nest can be removed as long as there are no eggs removed as long as there are no eggs or young present in the nest. or young present in the nest.

• • In the event eggs or young need to be In the event eggs or young need to be removed, USFWS should be contacted removed, USFWS should be contacted (relocation is very successful).(relocation is very successful).

Non-Colonial Waterbirds Cont’dNon-Colonial Waterbirds Cont’d

Examples of colonial waterbirds and their nestsExamples of colonial waterbirds and their nests

Common Tern Least Tern

Examples of colonial waterbirds and their Examples of colonial waterbirds and their nestsnestsHerring

GullGreat Black-back Gull

Examples of non-colonial waterbirds and their Examples of non-colonial waterbirds and their nestsnests

Black-neck Stilt Killdeer

American Oystercatcher

WilletExamples of non-colonial waterbirds and their Examples of non-colonial waterbirds and their

nestsnests

Questions???Questions???