Biologist Worried For Endangered Bird

Scientists that measure and study the populations of birds in regions of the Northeast, specifically Seavey Island and the Isle of Shoals, are worried about the Roseate tern population. Numbers of the Roseate tern are down 20% with only 40 pairs of Roseate terns, and 46 Roseate tern chicks being counted this summer.

The other breeds of terns in Seavey Island, one of the areas being studied, are doing well with numbers that are only down 5.5% compared to alst year, and overall the Isle of Shoals tern population, including state-endangered common terns and state-threatened Arctic terns, are doing well.

Fish and Game did a controlled burn on Seavey Island in September of 2006 and found that the birds would nest in the cleared areas. They plan to continue the controlled burn to provide a habitat that will facilitate their nesting.

Hopefully these sea birds' numbers rebound, as the Roseate tern is nearly as low as it was seen in 1987 when they were originally put on the endangered animal list.

http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_ternproject.html

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080825/GJNEWS_01/4 45...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2008/08/25/nh_ bi...