New

Late terns’ breeding in Kintai

 01-09-2020


Late terns’ breeding in Kintai

The usual start of the Common terns’ breeding season is late May, just after the long journey from the wintering grounds. However, sometimes the season takes much longer. The breeding peak is the first part of June, when the early chicks are already fed by the parents. The Common terns, which lost the first clutch, usually lay the second one and not necessarily at the same place. The predators and variation of water level are the main reasons, why the clutches are lost. This scenario was observed in the Kintai fishponds mid-August, when at the same time the offspring of different age were registered. During the fourth monitoring visit to the site, the ornithologists registered 40 nests with eggs or chicks, which just hatched. Similar cases were registered in other fishponds late July.

V.E maitina jaunikli IMG_2112 (1)

Common terns feed their chicks. Photo by Vytautas Eigirdas

Kintai 20200630_173830 (1)

The nest of the Common Terns was almost flooded by water. Photo by Julius Morkūnas

Kintai_20200630_182647 (1)

Late clutch of Common Tern in the grass. The nest hole is made from verdure. Photo by Julius Morkūnas


All heading’s news: