U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office

1. 2012 Tern (Bird )Training: Minimizing Negative Impacts to Nesting Birds at Maryland Port Administration/Maryland Environmental Service Facilities U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office

2. 2012 MES Tern Training Why Bother? • Just about all birds, with exception of a few (i.e. House Sparrow, Starling, Mute Swan) are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. • MBTA: Illegal to destroy nests and their contents, or disturb nests. • Heavy fines can be imposed $15,000 and or 6 month jail time possible. • Bird Conservation/minimizing impacts to nesting birds

3. What Can I Do? • Be observant, notice the behaviors of birds on site; variety of habitats present. • What to look for, examples include: • Large concentrations of birds in a given area (on ground and in the air). • Birds staying tight on a an area, reluctant to take flight or leave when approached. • Excessive vocalization when approached. • False displays such as being wounded or acting as though nesting when flushed.

4. When to Notify • Notify Environmental Unit leader when the above observations are made, particularly during the nesting season (spring and summer). • Remember that just about all birds are federally and state protected through the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. • Upon confirmation of nesting, onsite workers should be briefed on where nesting areas are located and reminded that entry into these areas is restricted.

5. Colonial Waterbirds • Can be problematic due to the high numbers of birds in a given area (i.e. Common Tern and Least Tern). • Area of concern should searched by two or more individuals walking in transects approximately 5 m apart. • Travel through the search area should be slow, continuously looking where each step is placed. Nests can be easily overlooked and trampled. Upon discovery of each nest a pin flag should be placed near the nest (<1 m).

6. Colonial Waterbirds Cont’d • After an area is searched and no further nests are found, the boundaries of the colony should marked by highly visible markers such as large orange cones and the nest flags removed. • Search activities should be no more than 20 minutes, and should take place early in the day when temperatures are cooler. Searches should not be made when it is raining. • The area should be made off-limits to onsite personnel, particularly equipment and vehicles. USFWS/MDNR should be notified when colonial waterbird nesting is occurring on site.

7. Non-Colonial Waterbirds • Usually not as problematic as colonial waterbirds (Killdeer, Willet, Black-neck Stilt, American Oystercatcher) • Nests of these species when located near roads, or heavily traveled areas should be marked with flags or small cones etc. • Relocating nests does work for some species such as Killdeer as long as the nest is not moved more than 2-3 m from original location. • Onsite personnel cannot move nests, a federal and state permit is required. (exception is for osprey).

8. Non-Colonial Waterbirds Cont’d • If an osprey tries to nest on a piece of equipment, building or other undesirable object, the nest can be removed as long as there are no eggs or young present in the nest. • In the event eggs or young need to be removed, USFWS should be contacted (relocation is very successful).

9. Examples of colonial waterbirds and their nests Common Tern Least Tern

10. Examples of colonial waterbirds and their nests Herring Gull Great Black-back Gull

11. Examples of non-colonial waterbirds and their nests Black-neck Stilt Killdeer

12. Examples of non-colonial waterbirds and their nests Willet American Oystercatcher

13. Questions???