Terns’ breeding on the islands of Nemunas river
09-06-2021
With the first days of the summer, Common and Little terns started to breed on the islands of Nemunas river. For protection of these rare birds two sites have been designated at the Nemunas Loops Regional Park as Natura 2000 areas.
Breeding Little Tern. Photo by Renatas Jakaitis
Common and Little terns prefer open river islands, with are not overgrown with high vegetation. However, without proper management some of them might overgrow with high grasses and bushes. Unfortunately these degraded habitats do not fit for the breeding terns anymore. After a few years of proper management, population of both terns’ species started to grow on the Nemunas river islands.
Breeding Common Tern. Photo by Renatas Jakaitis
Not only proper management of the breeding habitats is important for protection of birds – it’s important that during this sensitive time the birds would be not stressed, as eggs and chicks might be left by their parents after disturbance. The visits on the islands of the Natura 2000 sites are restricted during the most sensitive breeding season from April to July. The Project also initiated establishment on numerous warning signs.
Chick of the Common tern.
