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Monitoring and Management of Rooftops and Overview of Historic rooftop sites on the Space Coast. Rooftop Nesting on Tar and Gravel Roofs. 80% of least terns in Florida nesting on rooftops. Black skimmers on east coast mostly restricted to rooftops.
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Monitoring and Management of Rooftops and Overview of Historic rooftop sites on the Space Coast
80% of least terns in Florida nesting on rooftops • Black skimmers on east coast mostly restricted to rooftops
Least Tern Colonies in Florida: The trend towards roofs • Southeast Florida - 100% on Ground (Downing 1973) • Florida Atlantic Coast – 21% on Roofs (Fisk 1978) • Southeast Florida – 93% on Roofs (Zambrano et al 2000) • Florida Keys – 38% on Roofs (Hovis and Robson 1989) • Florida Keys – 100% on Roofs (Zambrano unpublished data 2000)
Rooftops surveyed in 2010 • Six species nesting on roofs • 32% roofs became unsuitable from 2000-2010 • 146 active, 221 inactive, 107 unsuitable • 16 sites with 2 or more species
Survey of Rooftops in the Space Coast - 2010 Surveyed Rooftops Active Rooftops 40 19 Inactive Rooftops Unsuitable Rooftops 9 12
Monitoring – Flush Counts • Count whenthere is a flushing event • Conduct several counts if possible and use the highest count of adults • Wait at least 15 minutes if no birds are seen or heard • Monitor per FSA count windows
Monitoring – Direct Counts • Obtain permission to access adjacent property • Conduct direct counts of adults, nests, and/or chicks • May require a spotting scope or binoculars • Monitor per FSA count windows
Management – Chick Checking Why Chick Check? Chicks may fall off roofs if there is no raised edge, fencing, or drain screens Volunteers should check for chicks at least 3 times a day
Chick corral and 3rd generation chick-a-boom, (John Hood - Suncoast partnership)
Education • Signs available for distribution to willing building owners and managers