Post by sam on Sept 3, 2010 16:18:00 GMT -5
For immediate release: Sep 03, 2010
Posted by: [DNR]
Contact: Marty Benson
Phone: (317) 233-3835
Email: dnrnews@dnr.in.gov
State and Wildlife Grants Program help monitor least terns
The interior least tern, a federal endangered species of bird, has a fighting chance thanks to State Wildlife Grant money used to support its monitoring.
Nests in small colonies on barren islands, d**es, and shorelines of the lower Wabash and Ohio rivers in southwestern Indiana are signs of hope that wouldn't be possible without the use of new State Wildlife Grant funds.
From Sept. 4-12, Indiana is celebrating the 10th anniversary of SWG by recognizing DNR activities, including the least tern program, in which it's played a key role by providing federal grant funds that benefit fish and wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished.
The least tern ran into trouble because of alterations to rivers and increased recreational visits to natural sandbars and beaches, which reduced traditional nesting opportunities for these small, gull-like birds.
The least tern stronghold in Indiana has been at a Duke Energy power plant at Gibson Lake and adjacent areas, where the bird was first discovered nesting in 1986. More than 50 pairs have been present each of the last few years and more than 100 young birds have been successfully produced annually at the site.
In 2003, through acquisition of the 840 acres of floodplain cropland, a new nesting site, Tern Bar Slough, was added to help the terns. This property is on the south end of Gibson Lake and borders the federally managed Cane Ridge Wildlife Management Area to the west.
Approximately 216 acres were restored to prairie grasslands surrounding two 3-acre nesting islands for terns enclosed by a moat-like water body. The remainder of the property was restored to wetlands and planted with a variety of suitable tree species.
Least terns made nesting attempts during that first year, but predators gained access and destroyed the nests. In later years, terns have been noted feeding in the moat but no nest attempts have been detected as yet.
Tern Bar Slough and environs still attract a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. Wildlife viewing is available from the wetland levees at Tern Bar Slough.
To learn more about other SWG-related projects please see www.wildlife.IN.gov and click on the eagle at the top center labeled State Wildlife Grants.
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Link to this event: www.in.gov/portal/news_events/57236.htm
State and Wildlife Grants Program help monitor least terns Sep 03, 2010 content_id:53BEC98823DC44BF96A9BF62D980D54B; type:press; agency:DNR; showOnHomepage:; sortDate:Sep 03, 2010; filterDate:201009; isBanner:no; agencyDivision:DNR;09 - September;2010;Press Release;Show on Home
Posted by: [DNR]
Contact: Marty Benson
Phone: (317) 233-3835
Email: dnrnews@dnr.in.gov
State and Wildlife Grants Program help monitor least terns
The interior least tern, a federal endangered species of bird, has a fighting chance thanks to State Wildlife Grant money used to support its monitoring.
Nests in small colonies on barren islands, d**es, and shorelines of the lower Wabash and Ohio rivers in southwestern Indiana are signs of hope that wouldn't be possible without the use of new State Wildlife Grant funds.
From Sept. 4-12, Indiana is celebrating the 10th anniversary of SWG by recognizing DNR activities, including the least tern program, in which it's played a key role by providing federal grant funds that benefit fish and wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished.
The least tern ran into trouble because of alterations to rivers and increased recreational visits to natural sandbars and beaches, which reduced traditional nesting opportunities for these small, gull-like birds.
The least tern stronghold in Indiana has been at a Duke Energy power plant at Gibson Lake and adjacent areas, where the bird was first discovered nesting in 1986. More than 50 pairs have been present each of the last few years and more than 100 young birds have been successfully produced annually at the site.
In 2003, through acquisition of the 840 acres of floodplain cropland, a new nesting site, Tern Bar Slough, was added to help the terns. This property is on the south end of Gibson Lake and borders the federally managed Cane Ridge Wildlife Management Area to the west.
Approximately 216 acres were restored to prairie grasslands surrounding two 3-acre nesting islands for terns enclosed by a moat-like water body. The remainder of the property was restored to wetlands and planted with a variety of suitable tree species.
Least terns made nesting attempts during that first year, but predators gained access and destroyed the nests. In later years, terns have been noted feeding in the moat but no nest attempts have been detected as yet.
Tern Bar Slough and environs still attract a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. Wildlife viewing is available from the wetland levees at Tern Bar Slough.
To learn more about other SWG-related projects please see www.wildlife.IN.gov and click on the eagle at the top center labeled State Wildlife Grants.
« Back to News Release List
Link to this event: www.in.gov/portal/news_events/57236.htm
State and Wildlife Grants Program help monitor least terns Sep 03, 2010 content_id:53BEC98823DC44BF96A9BF62D980D54B; type:press; agency:DNR; showOnHomepage:; sortDate:Sep 03, 2010; filterDate:201009; isBanner:no; agencyDivision:DNR;09 - September;2010;Press Release;Show on Home