BRADENTON BEACH – Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring reports that a colony of least terns on the beach is thriving.
As of May 24, there are 15 birds on nests and 29 individuals inside the fenced-off area. One nest has been lost to an unknown cause, according to a release from Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.
“There are still some individuals courting and making scrapes (nests) so it’s possible there may be more nests in the coming days,” Mazzarella wrote. “As of yet, we have no chicks, but the first few nests should be due very soon.”
In an effort to keep new chicks from traveling out of the posted area towards the busy 27th Street beach access, Turtle Watch volunteers have installed “chick fencing,” as chicks are mobile soon after they hatch and are likely to leave the posted area.
“We ask folks to keep their distance from this posted colony as the birds are very susceptible to disturbance and we want them to stay on their nests to protect the eggs from heat and predators,” Mazzarella wrote.
