Often seen with … Compare data to previously published data on the Canadian River to determine the long-term population trend. Least tern. Interior Least Tern adults with characteristic dark bill tip and plumage. 1997) and are more ephemeral than coastal ones due to rapid changes in suitable habitats from flooding (Sidle et al. 5. Listing the Interior Least Tern. Interior least terns generally nest in colonies, but colony fidelity and stability is variable (Renken & Smith 1995). 2016 Interior Least Tern and Piping Plover Report for the lower Platte River, Nebraska Page 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We extend special thanks to our 2016 … Interior Least Terns: Preservation Through Innovation and Partnerships . Forages by flying over water, hovering, and plunging to catch prey just below water's surface. An interior least tern hatchling sits with other eggs in a nest on an island in the Lower Mississippi River in 2007. Fall migration appears to … Fish and Wildlife Service is now in the process of putting in place the necessary … Buff to pale green, … Photo gallery < > Feeding Behavior. The Interior Least Tern is an energetic, swallow-like bird with a deeply forked tail and slender wings. Subsequent to this BO, which … Least terns are monogamous (meaning the male and female stay together as a pair for the entire breeding season). Least terns are very defensive and adults scream, dive, and sometimes defecate on intruders. The interior least tern population is now estimated at roughly 18,000 birds. Current distribution is probably similar to historic distribution because the Niobrara … Least Terns are Nearctic-Neotropical migratory birds that are widely distributed across North America during the breeding season. Amazing Facts About the Least Tern. Younger birds duller with black bill, blackish crown patch, and grayish shoulder, but still always identifiable by size and quick wingbeats. Spring migration is thought to be rather quick as birds are eager to get to their breeding habitat. When it came to the Lower Mississippi, the … Interior Least Terns are: slightly smaller than a robin; 9 inches long from … Interior least terns arrive in Nebraska in early to mid May to establish foraging and nesting territories. Colonies are usually small (20-50 nests; Thompson et al. Bruce C. Thompson, Jerome A. Jackson, Joanna Burger, Laura A. Hill, Eileen M. Kirsch, and Jonathan L. Atwood Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020 that interior least terns (Sterna antillarium) had established several nesting colonies on some of the newly formed sand bars in the Kansas River between Manhattan, KS and Topeka, KS (Busby, et al. Fish and Wildlife Service. Once hurt by hunting and the damming of major rivers, the interior least tern population has increased tenfold since 1985 to more than 18,000. At least a couple of days a week during the interior least tern nesting season biologist Tonya Dunn can be found on the rivers of the Tulsa District in an airboat counting interior least terns. Descriptive identifiers include a black crowned head with a snowy white underside and forehead. Sometimes dips down to take prey from surface of water or land, and may catch insects in flight. When river impoundment, channelization, … The interior least tern is an integral part of the … 2013, … Fish and Wildlife Service since 1985. Click on image to enlarge: Lewis and Clark referred to the Least Tern as “a frequently observed bird.” The historic breeding range of the Interior Least Tern in Nebraska included the Missouri River, the Platte … They overwinter in marine coastal areas throughout the Pacific coast of southern Mexico and along eastern coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, south to northern Argentina and southern Brazil … Language; Watch; Edit (Redirected from Interior least tern) The least tern (Sternula antillarum) is a species of tern that breeds in North America and locally in northern South America. Interior Least Tern Monitoring Results 2007 – Brantley Lake, New Mexico 1. The smallest of American terns, the Least Tern is found nesting on sandy beaches along the southern coasts of the United States and up the major river systems far into the interior of the continent. Interior least terns breed along the lower section of the Niobrara River, Nebraska, from Keya Paha and Rock Counties to the Missouri River. Anyone working with least or little terns (Sternula albifrons) anywhere in the world is invited to join. The U.S. The endangered Interior Least Tern (Sterna antil-larum athalassos) breeds inland along the Mis-souri, Mississippi, Col-orado, Arkansas, Red, and Rio Grande River systems. The interior population of least tern was listed as endangered in 1985. Populations along the East and West coasts are not endangered. The Interior least tern's known range has increased significantly: The reported numbers of nesting Interior least terns have expanded by almost an order of magnitude from fewer than 2,000 in 1985, to approximately 18,000 in 2005 (Lott 2006, p. 10), and currently more than 480 Interior least tern colonies are known to occur in four major drainages with 16 primary subpopulations (Lott et al. The least tern is a colonial nester which means that they like to build their nest and raise their young close to other terns in a large colony. Other close relatives include the yellow-billed tern and Peruvian tern, both from South America. A real beach bum, rarely straying far from sand, both on the coast and along inland rivers and lakes. A 1990 recovery plan set an overall population goal of 7,000 birds, which has been exceeded since 1994. The Interior Least Tern (Sterna a. athalassos), nests locally along major streams and rivers in the Mississippi River drainage basin, including the Platte, Loup, Elkhorn, Missouri and Niobrara in Nebraska. 1997), river … Track habitat quality in the areas used by terns for their nesting colonies. The small birds, often seen fishing along the rivers of Oklahoma, have been listed as an endangered species by the U.S. In an effort to insure the future of threatened and endangered species, like the least tern, the piping plover, and the pallid sturgeon, the U.S. These locations are the westernmost nesting sites of the interior least tern. This group has been formed to enhance communication among biologists working on the recovery of least terns in the Americas including Eastern least terns (Sternula antillarum antillarum), Interior least terns ( S.a. athalossos), and California least terns ( S.a.browni). A few interior least terns have been recorded on islands and shoreline within the Fort Peck Reservoir. Interior Least Tern. Both adults take turns incubating the 2-3 egg clutch for … Other articles where Least tern is discussed: tern: The least, or little, tern (S. albifrons), under 25 cm (10 inches) long, is the smallest tern. On the Gulf Coast, our Beach-nesting Birds Program and many partners are cooperating to bring back populations of Least Tern and other vulnerable beach-nesting birds including Black Skimmer, Wilson's Plover, and Snowy Plover. This species originally nested on sandbars and beaches found on major interior rivers in Iowa and the Central U.S., and on widespread coastal beaches. Read TWS’ standing position on Threatened and Endangered Species and Position Statement on the U.S. … The interior population of least terns was listed as federally endangered in 1985 (50 Federal Register 21,784 - 92). Fish & Wildlife Service has proposed changes to the way the … The sooty tern (S. fuscata), about 40 cm (16 inches) long, has… Interior Least Tern nest Piping Plover nest “Fortunately protection has come in time to save this beautiful species from complete extermination with which it certainly was threatened.” Arthur Cleveland Bent Life Histories of North American Gulls and Terns. The Least Tern is the smallest tern in North America. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District is responsible for monitoring the Interior Least Tern populations on the Arkansas, Canadian and Red Rivers within the District’s boundaries. It is often seen flying low over the water, with quick deep wing beats and shrill cries. Interior least terns feed mostly on small fish caught by skimming the surface of the water or by making dives from the air. Interior least terns can now be found nesting along more than 2,858 miles of river channels in 18 states — from Montana to Texas and Illinois to Colorado. Terns_Endangered_List_77730 In this 2007 photo provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, researchers look for interior least terns during a survey of the lower Mississippi River. Least tern … During migration Least Terns have appeared feeding in aquatic habitats throughout the United States. 1997).  The interior least tern was listed as a federally endangered species in 1985, and remains a species of concern because of its low numbers, and the degradation of habitat in certain areas throughout its range. Interior Least Terns are thought to primarily follow major rivers during their migration route. Photo Gallery. Loss of nesting habitat has been implicated as a cause of population declines, and managing these habitats is a major initiative in population recovery. The interior least tern was federally listed as endangered on June 27, 1985, primarily due to the loss of nesting habitat as a result of dramatic alterations (channelization and impoundment) of important river systems; however, a recently completed five-year review recommends delisting least terns due to recovery. Although these sub-species are generally recognized, recent evidence indicates that terns hatched on the Texas coast sometimes breed inland. Monitor Interior Least Tern colonies in the project area each breeding season. Eggs. 1992; Smith & Renken 1993), changes in vegetation from controlled water flow below dams (Thompson et al. In view of this recent occurrence of Least Terns at Brantley Lake, Reclamation consulted with the Service, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and was issued a Biological Opinion (BO; consultation #2-22-03-F-171) from the Service on 14 April 2006 for the Pecos River dam operations. Tern population size targets for recovery have been met in the Mississippi, Red and Arkansas river drainages, but not yet in the Missouri drainage, perhaps the most heavily impounded and managed of the rivers in the tern’s … One such initiative involves construction of mid‐channel sandbars on the Missouri River, where natural sandbar … It is the smallest tern in North America. By late August or early September, they migrate south to wintering grounds along the Gulf of Mexico. The interior population, which once inhabited all the major river systems in the middle of the country, evolved to take advantage of constantly changing rivers and fish concentrated in pools by retreating summer flows. Interior least terns may live up to 21 years. Least terns are the smallest of the North American terns; adult length of 21-24 cm and a … The tapered, pointed wings, back, and forked tail are grayish in color. It breeds on sandy coasts and river sandbars in temperate to tropical regions worldwide except South America. Interior least terns are found along rivers across the Great Plains and the Lower Mississippi Valley, according to the U.S. The Service is accepting public comments on the proposal to remove the interior least tern from the endangered species list through Dec. 23. These battles led to an endangered listing for “Interior Least Terns,” defined as any Least Tern nesting more than 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Federally endangered interior least terns (Sternula antillarum) nest on bare or sparsely vegetated sandbars on midcontinent river systems. Background The Interior Least Tern is the smallest of the North American terns and has been listed as an endangered species since June 27, 1985. They are believed to migrate in small family groups and feed in water bodies along the way. 1-3, perhaps rarely more. Some biologists specu-late that the interchange between coastal and river populations is … However, Least Terns in some parts of the east are now nesting successfully on gravel roofs near the coast. Our staff organized the first range-wide population survey of the Interior Least Tern; in the near future, the species may be removed from the endangered species list. The Interior Least Tern is a state and federally protected endangered species. Protect breeding bird colonies where warranted by flagging areas and using temporary psychological fencing to deter human … Breeding adults have yellow bill, stumpy yellow feet, white forehead, and black cap. Tiny, noticeably smaller than other terns, with quick flicking wingbeats. It is closely related to, and was formerly often considered conspecific with, the little tern of the Old World. These small shorebirds average 8-10 inches in length with a wingspan of 20 inches. Although widespread during the breeding season, populations have been seriously diminished by recreational, industrial, and … The smallest of American Terns, the Least Tern is found nesting on sandy beaches along the southern coasts of the United States and up the major river systems far into the interior of the continent. 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