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"Home to the largest colony of breeding terns in the Gulf of Maine, the Isles of Shoals is a special place in New Hampshire.Common terns (state threatened), roseate terns (state and federally endangered) and Arctic terns migrate to the Isles of Shoals of the New Hampshire coast to nest and raise their young each year. It is known as the Seavey Island Tern Colony.A special fundraising effort is underway through the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department\u2019s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program to start new research using nanotag telemetry.The hope is that this technology will help scientists learn about the foraging behavior of terns and how it affects their ability to nest and raise young.Since restoration efforts began in 1997, the number of common terns nesting on the islands has increased from six pairs to more than 2,600 in 2013.In addition, since the first pair of roseate terns nested in 2001, their numbers have grown to 59 pairs last year.Information transmitted by the nanotags will be collected through the Northeast Regional Migration Monitoring Network. It will analyze how far they go to find food and how long they forage -- important factors that can influence the survival of chicks and overall productivity of the breeding populations.This research will help biologists better understand how seeking food influences tern reproduction and will inform future management decisions in an effort to sustain the New Hampshire tern colonies.Terns arrive in New Hampshire during April and May each year to breed. Each nesting pair lays two to four eggs during late May through July, and the male and female take turns incubating the eggs for approximately 21 to 27 days.Chicks are born with downy feathers but are dependent on adults for protection and food. They cannot fly for about the first 28 days of life and are very susceptible to predation.All terns leave New Hampshire in August to migrate south to their wintering grounds.This work is also part of an emerging network of tern research efforts throughout the Northeast, including researchers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University of New Hampshire, University of Massachusetts, and Bird Studies Canada, which are working together to track and monitor the movement of terns on the Isles of Shoals after the breeding season.Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301. (Make checks payable to NH Fish and Game/Nongame Program.) For a print-and-mail contribution form, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Nongame/support_nongame.htm.For more information about terns in New Hampshire visit: http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Wildlife_profiles/common_tern.html."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wmur.com/article/new-technology-helps-researchers-track-terns/5187017>