Feeding ecology of Little Tern Sternula albifrons in the UK

Abstract

An understanding of feeding and foraging behaviour is an important component of population ecology. Studying feeding and foraging behaviour is particularly important for seabirds where a link between poor breeding success and poor feeding has been identified in several species. This study looks at the feeding ecology of the Little Tern Sternula albifrons, a species which has undergone an estimated population decline of 37% in the UK over the last three decades, attributed to reduced productivity and recruitment. The study firstly examines chick diet in the UK and how this varies between colonies and years. It then looks at the factors driving observed patterns of food delivery to chicks and links these to measures of colony success. In doing so it draws on unpublished chick feeding data collected at English and Welsh colonies by the EU LIFE funded Little Tern Recovery Project in the period 2014 to 2018. The study goes on to investigate the potential for using camera trapping and video imagery as an alternative to direct observation for collection of data in chick feeding studies of Little Tern and to examine patterns and locations of foraging by adult Little Tern at the Long Nanny tern colony in Northumberland and at the Seaton Carew tern colony in Hartlepool on Teesside. I review what evidence these provide on the role of diet and food availability on the breeding success and conservation of UK Little Tern and provide recommendations for further areas of study.