HARRISBURG, PA — In a remarkable breakthrough for Pennsylvania’s wildlife conservation efforts, common terns have successfully nested in the state for the first time in six decades. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the ongoing initiatives led by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and its partners.
Historically, the common tern was not a prolific breeder in Pennsylvania, with nesting confined to Presque Isle State Park in Erie County. Records from the 1930s documented around 100 breeding pairs at Gull Point. However, by 1985, human disturbances led to the species being deemed “extirpated” from the state.
The tide began to turn in 1999 with the return of a single breeding pair, prompting their classification as “endangered.” Efforts intensified over the years, focusing on habitat restoration at Gull Point. Despite these efforts, nesting attempts from 2012 onward consistently failed, primarily due to predation by gulls and other beach predators.
This year, the scenario initially seemed bleak when a returning pair’s initial nesting attempt failed. However, a novel approach by the Game Commission staff offered a glimmer of hope. Led by Endangered Bird Specialist Patti Barber, the team devised an innovative solution: a predator-exclusion structure resembling an open-roofed fort around the nest.
“It was time to try something new in the recovery of this species,” noted Lisa Williams, Chief of the Game Commission’s Wildlife Recovery Division. Barber added, “With only a single nesting pair on the beach, these birds do not tolerate disturbance and are very likely to abandon the nest.”
Constructed incrementally to avoid disrupting the birds, the exclosure allowed the terns to acclimate. The strategy paid off, and the chicks survived to fledge, a sight unseen since the 1960s when icons like Cassius Clay and the Beatles made headlines.
This success story is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in conservation. As Barber enthused, “It’s amazing the things we can achieve when partners work together!” The successful nesting of common terns heralds a hopeful future for these birds in Pennsylvania, potentially paving the way for their re-establishment in the region.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.