Usurpation and Brooding of Least Tern (<i>Sternula antillarum</i>) Chicks by Common Terns (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>)
While nest usurpation and subsequent incubation of eggs and even brooding of chicks from other species has been reported for Common Terns (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>), such behavior is considered rare. We report an observation of a Common Tern pair usurping the Least Tern (<i>Sternula a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/1/10 |
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| author | Jeffery D. Sullivan Jonathan Irons Anna Treadway Ayla McDonough Alyssa Lee Amy O’Donnell Carl R. Callahan Peter C. McGowan Diann J. Prosser |
| author_facet | Jeffery D. Sullivan Jonathan Irons Anna Treadway Ayla McDonough Alyssa Lee Amy O’Donnell Carl R. Callahan Peter C. McGowan Diann J. Prosser |
| author_sort | Jeffery D. Sullivan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While nest usurpation and subsequent incubation of eggs and even brooding of chicks from other species has been reported for Common Terns (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>), such behavior is considered rare. We report an observation of a Common Tern pair usurping the Least Tern (<i>Sternula antillarum</i>) nest and brooding the Least Tern chicks. While the Least Tern pair attempted to provide care for the chicks, the Common Terns displayed aggressive behavior and defended the nest. Though both species attempted to feed the chicks, no feeding events were observed due to harassment from the other species. Neither pair was observed nesting prior to or following this event, and all chicks are believed to have been lost to predation. We discuss the possible scenarios leading to the observed usurpation event, the possibility that usurpations are more common than previously believed, and the need for different monitoring methods to elucidate the causes of usurpations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:00:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba43bd612ea04732896baf159982049b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:00:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba43bd612ea04732896baf159982049b2024-01-26T16:04:18ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-12-011611010.3390/d16010010Usurpation and Brooding of Least Tern (<i>Sternula antillarum</i>) Chicks by Common Terns (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>)Jeffery D. Sullivan0Jonathan Irons1Anna Treadway2Ayla McDonough3Alyssa Lee4Amy O’Donnell5Carl R. Callahan6Peter C. McGowan7Diann J. Prosser8U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Laurel, MD 20708, USAVolunteer for the U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Laurel, MD 20708, USAVolunteer for the U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Laurel, MD 20708, USAContractor to the U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Laurel, ML 20708, USAVolunteer for the U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Laurel, MD 20708, USAU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD 21401, USAU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD 21401, USAU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD 21401, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Laurel, MD 20708, USAWhile nest usurpation and subsequent incubation of eggs and even brooding of chicks from other species has been reported for Common Terns (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>), such behavior is considered rare. We report an observation of a Common Tern pair usurping the Least Tern (<i>Sternula antillarum</i>) nest and brooding the Least Tern chicks. While the Least Tern pair attempted to provide care for the chicks, the Common Terns displayed aggressive behavior and defended the nest. Though both species attempted to feed the chicks, no feeding events were observed due to harassment from the other species. Neither pair was observed nesting prior to or following this event, and all chicks are believed to have been lost to predation. We discuss the possible scenarios leading to the observed usurpation event, the possibility that usurpations are more common than previously believed, and the need for different monitoring methods to elucidate the causes of usurpations.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/1/10broodingcommon ternleast ternnest usurpation<i>Sterna hirundo</i><i>Sternula antillarum</i> |
| spellingShingle | Jeffery D. Sullivan Jonathan Irons Anna Treadway Ayla McDonough Alyssa Lee Amy O’Donnell Carl R. Callahan Peter C. McGowan Diann J. Prosser Usurpation and Brooding of Least Tern (<i>Sternula antillarum</i>) Chicks by Common Terns (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>) Diversity brooding common tern least tern nest usurpation <i>Sterna hirundo</i> <i>Sternula antillarum</i> |
| title | Usurpation and Brooding of Least Tern (<i>Sternula antillarum</i>) Chicks by Common Terns (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>) |
| title_full | Usurpation and Brooding of Least Tern (<i>Sternula antillarum</i>) Chicks by Common Terns (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>) |
| title_fullStr | Usurpation and Brooding of Least Tern (<i>Sternula antillarum</i>) Chicks by Common Terns (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Usurpation and Brooding of Least Tern (<i>Sternula antillarum</i>) Chicks by Common Terns (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>) |
| title_short | Usurpation and Brooding of Least Tern (<i>Sternula antillarum</i>) Chicks by Common Terns (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>) |
| title_sort | usurpation and brooding of least tern i sternula antillarum i chicks by common terns i sterna hirundo i |
| topic | brooding common tern least tern nest usurpation <i>Sterna hirundo</i> <i>Sternula antillarum</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/1/10 |
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