Monitoring of Common Terns at Novaraistis Ornithological Reserve
28-06-2019
The first monitoring visit to Novaraistis Ornithological Reserve was performed on June 2, 2019. In the frame of the project, a few open peat islands were restored, and this season Common Terns settled three of them separately from Caspian Gulls, that occupied large islands of the peatland. The biggest colony with 65 pairs of Common Tern settled down on the island, which is in the western part of the peatland. The terns shared this island with Mew Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. In close neighbourhood, 18 pairs of Common Tern were located on the island, which is partly occupied by Black-headed Gulls. Five pairs bred on the small island in northern part of the area. During this visit 192 eggs were counted in the nests of Common Terns. The size of clutch varied, in some nests only one egg was found, while other terns were already expecting chicks.
Common Tern. Photo by Eugenijus Drobelis.
The second monitoring, which was performed on June 22, surprised the Project staff as birds have re-grouped on the islands. Due to the unknown reason, all Black-headed Gulls together with Common Terns moved the island with largest number of Common Terns. Currently this island is very densely populated. Some terns already feed their chicks. During the monitoring visit 13 repeated and 14 new clutches of Common Terns were counted. In addition to five pairs of Common Terns, breeding in northern part of the peatland, 3 new nests were found. It seems that is rather safe to breed on this island in a distance from the bigger colony.
Black-headed Gull. Photo by Eugenijus Drobelis.
During this visit other bird species were observed: Black Terns, Common Redshanks, Northern Lapwings, Greylag Geese, Tufted Ducks, Western Marsh Harriers, White-tailed Eagles and European Honey Buzzards.
