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Roof-top Nesting Least Terns at Atlantic Beach, NC
- To: "Carolinabirds" <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
- Subject: Roof-top Nesting Least Terns at Atlantic Beach, NC
- From: "John Fussell" <jfuss@clis.com>
- Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 21:01:09 -0400
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
For a few years, Least Terns have been nesting on the roof of a small
shopping center at Atlantic Beach, NC.
A few days ago, I noticed that dunes adjacent to the shopping center are as
high as the roof, and I walked up on one of them to see how many birds were
nesting.
I counted about 100 adult birds. I could see about 40 young birds--ones
large enough to be moving around at least a little. I believe I would have
missed smaller birds lying on the light colored rocks from the distance I
was. A few adult birds were apparently still on eggs or small young. Some
of the young birds were beginning to fly as of today.
There are a few structures on the roof that provide some shade, and I
noticed that many of the young cluster around these.
Apparently, Least Tern is the only species nesting here this year (except
maybe Killdeers).
During the 2 times I've checked out the colony, I haven't seen any Laughing
Gulls or Fish Crows hovering over the colony.
John Fussell
Morehead City, NC
jfuss@clis.com