THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
THE BIRDS OF SOUTH
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
ROSEATE TERN – Sterna dougallii
As with all reports of
rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective
rarities committees
In the late 1800s Roseate Terns were hunted for their plumes which were used to decorate hats. More recently their numbers have decreased in some regions due to increased competition and predation by large gulls. With their favouring partly-hidden nest sites and the provision of nest boxes has proven a dramatic conservation success with the birds taking to them readily. This resulted in greatly increased breeding productivity with the protection given to the young from predatory Gulls. On Coquet Island in Northumberland the population rose from twenty-five pairs in 1997 to ninety-two pairs in 2005 after nest boxes were provided. Similar measures have been undertaken on Anglesey.
There have been two Roseate Tern reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;
1990: (1)
On May 1st a full summer adult was watched for several minutes off New Passage. This occurrence constitutes the first record of this species for S. Gloucestershire.
1997: (1)
On October 8th a juvenile/ 1st winter was noted at Severn Beach.