The Brothers as seen from Lower West Pubnico. (2005 Ted D'Eon photo)

This report will mostly cover work being done on North Brother.

Work on these islands is done in cooperation with Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (NSDNRR). - Ted D'Eon

THE BROTHERS, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia

OBSERVATIONS:

I will begin my 2023 entries with a very big winter storm that washed over The Brothers from the evening of December 23 to morning on December 24, 2022.

It was a storm of almost hurricane proportions.

Below are just a few photos from the mainland of North and South Brother during the high wind and waves of the morning of December 24. Note that the plywood blind on North Brother looks just fine, so the blind has survived.

Most of the time I had the camera or binoculars pointed at South Brother, I could not see any land at all, just churning and the splashing of water right over the island. North Brother was always visible, at least in part.

North Brother - Dec. 24 2022 - photo by Ted D'Eon

North Brother - Dec. 24 2022 - photo by Ted D'Eon

South Brother - Dec. 24 2022 - photo by Ted D'Eon

January 2, 2023 - The Brothers (North and South).

A beautiful calm morning, perfect to check out the December 23/24 storm damage on the islands with my drone. See photos below.

There doesn't seem to be a huge amount of damage; our plywood observation blind which is housing all of the Roseate Tern nesting structures still looks sound. 4 or 5 Black Ducks took off from the "pond" as the drone approached the island.

All in all, the island looks like it should be okay for the 2023 nesting season.

North Brother - Jan. 2 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

North Brother - Jan. 2 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

North Brother - Jan. 2 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

North Brother - Jan. 2 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

North Brother - Jan. 2 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

South Brother - Jan. 2 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

South Brother - Jan. 2 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

Me (Ted D'Eon) at the controls - Jan. 2 2023 - Drone photo

April 22, 2023 - North Brother - by Alexis Saulnier

As Ted said in his report for our first visit to North Brother Island, there was a noticeable shift in the topography of the island as a result from hurricane Fiona. A considerable amount of gravel from the southwestern side of the island was pushed in the southern end of the hollow.

Over the last few years, invasive wild radish has quickly taken over the island and limited visibility of nesting terns. We are conducting a trial to attempt to control the encroaching vegetation by applying a hypersaline solution to six treatment plots in the Common tern (COTE) nesting area before the terns' nesting begins. Given the shift in the substrate on the island, there was little to no vegetation present on the island this early in the season. Nonetheless, Luc and I chose 12 one square meter plots where we knew vegetation was dense in the past. After selecting the plots, Andrea and Luc continued to work on preparing the saline solution and its application while Ted, Gavin, and I set up the nesting boxes.

The remainder of the island was also affected by the hurricane, specifically where the Roseate terns (ROST) typically nest. This region was overrun by larger rocks, which limits the nesting ground for the Roseate terns. To remedy this, Ted, Gavin, and I carried buckets of small gravel from the shore as a habitat management strategy for the ROST nesting shelters. We placed 60 nesting shelters on the western ridge, as we did last year.

Two Canada geese seemed disturbed by our presence and were observed loafing in the water nearby for the entirety of our visit. We suspect they were trying to nest on the island.

Team: Ted D'Eon, Gavin Maclean, Andrea Atkinson, Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, Alexis for this report. See photos below from today's visit.

Luc and Gavin removing ROST nesting shelters from the plywood blind, where they had been stored for the winter - North Brother - April 22 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Luc eyeing up the tongue of gravel which had moved in since last season, northeast into the south end of the "hollow" - North Brother - April 22 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Looking north from the south end of the tidal "hollow" - North Brother - April 22 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Luc applying the hypersaline solution - North Brother - April 22 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

You can see the darker areas where Luc applied the hypersaline solution - North Brother - April 22 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

Some of the Roseate Tern (ROST) nesting shelters - North Brother - April 22 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

More of the Roseate Tern (ROST) nesting shelters - North Brother - April 22 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

Roseate Tern (ROST) nesting shelters from above - North Brother - April 22 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

North Brother - April 22 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

North Brother - April 22 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

North Brother - April 22 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

North Brother (from the south, looking north) - April 22 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

Crew: Andrea, Luc, Alexis, me, and Gavin - North Brother - April 22 2023 - Drone photo by Ted D'Eon

April 26, 2023 - First terns in Lobster Bay for 2023! Lobster fisherman, Matthew Morton reported he had a tern on one of his buoys on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.

April 28, 2023 - North Brother - by Alexis Saulnier

Luc and I made our way to North Brother to do a second application of hypersaline solution.

There was no evidence to suggest terns had been on the island yet, although we had received reports from fishermen saying they saw terns on North Brother in the early morning.

It was evident which plots had received the treatment as the little vegetation that was present on our first visit was burnt by the salt and sun.

As we were about to leave, three Common terns flew overhead, then left flying southwest.

Team: Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, Alexis for this report.

May 5, 2023 - North Brother - by Alexis Saulnier

We sailed to North Brother to see if there had been any progress in the colony's presence and to apply another round of hypersaline solution.

No terns were seen nor heard during our entire visit on the island, however we did hear two Common terns on the shore before launching the boat.

The saline solution seemed to continue controlling the growth of new vegetation - see comparison between treatment and control plots.

Team: Luc Bilodeau, Macy d'Eon & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, Alexis for this report.

May 11, 2023 - North Brother - by Macy d'Eon

May 11th was our first trip to North Brother Island since the terns had arrived. We estimated that there were approximately 125 terns.

We heard a maximum of two Roseate terns while on the island. Not many prey observations were made as the terns were only observed for the first time on the island on May 6th.

There were two geese that stayed in proximity of the island during our visit, however, no nest was found.

Team: Alexis Saulnier, Luc Bilodeau & Macy d'Eon

Thank you, Macy for this report.

May 12, 2023 - North Brother - by Macy d'Eon

Upon our arrival, we estimated there to be 125 terns (the same as the day prior). There were two Roseate terns that were observed on the North Brother Island, neither of them was banded. On the island we also found 3 Common Eider eggs that had been predated. We found 6 possible scrapes in the ROST nesting shelters.

Before leaving the island, we applied the saline solution to the 6 treated areas for possibly the last time. We did not want to cause too much stress to the Common terns that were starting to nest in this region.

Team: Shawn Craik, Alexis Saulnier, Luc Bilodeau & Macy d'Eon

Thank you, Macy for this report.

May 15, 2023 - North Brother - by Macy d'Eon

Within a few days, the number of terns on the island accumulated to roughly 350.

While we were on the island, Alexis and I observed a few terns feeding on what seemed to be juvenile herring.

Identified bands:

- BA1 (red band, right leg)
- T83 (yellow band, left leg)

Judging by their behaviour - entering and exiting a few shelters together - we suspect that the banded Roseates T83 and BA1 are partners. According to Ted's reports from 2022, BA1 is a male (sexed by blood), so we can cautiously presume ROST T83 is female!

Team: Alexis Saulnier, Luc Bilodeau & Macy d'Eon

Thank you, Macy for this report.

Common Tern with Lumpfish - North Brother - May 15 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern presenting a moth to its mate - North Brother - May 15 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Atctic Tern with fish? - North Brother - May 15 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

May 19, 2023 - North Brother - by Alexis Saulnier

We arrived at the island to find near 500 terns, 16 of which we identified to be ROST!

We started by checking the nesting shelters and found 18 possible scrapes and 5 definite scrapes within the boxes. We also identified 5 COTE nests for monitoring, each containing one egg.

Much courtship feeding and copulation was observed during this visit, so we expect to have many more nests to report after our next trip to the island.

We conducted directional observations and saw only COTE returning with prey, mostly from the North and West. The identified prey consisted of juvenile herring, lumpfish, mummichogs, silverside, fish scraps, marine invertebrates, and one sighting each of shrimp, stickleback, and one fish head. We also observed Arctic terns foraging for spiders in the rocks, which is a behaviour we hadn't seen previous years on North Brother.

Since egg laying had begun, we stopped applying the hypersaline solution so as to not disturb the COTE nesting area any further. We were, however, able to notice a difference between treatment and control plots with regards to the new growth.

We found evidence of predation of a single Common Eider egg, but no identifiable nest to where it could have belonged.

We identified a handful of bands from the blind as well as with the help of Luc's photos:

- L45 (red band, right leg; reported as left leg in 2022)
- A81 (yellow band, left leg)
- L00 (red band, left leg)
- B76 (red band, left leg)
- C59 (red band, left leg)
- BE1 (red band, right leg)
- LY0 (red band, right leg)

I believe A81 is a new sighting in the Lobster Bay area!

Team: Luc Bilodeau, Macy d'Eon & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, Alexis for this report.

Roseate Tern A81 - North Brother - May 19 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Arctic Tern with spider - North Brother - May 19 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern carrying fish head - North Brother - May 19 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Arctic Tern carrying euphausiid - North Brother - May 19 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

May 20, 2023 - Cape Sable - Email report by Alix d'Entremont.

Bertin d'Eon and I visited Cape Sable yesterday (May 19, 2023). About 9 Common Terns and 4 Arctic Terns were observed at the location of last year's large colony (circled in red in map below). Both species were observed carrying fish and landing on the island. No Roseates were detected there. We are a bit early still, so I will check Cape Sable again. There were 322 tern nests on Cape Sable last year (see eBird checklist https://ebird.org/checklist/S113218558. I will be on the lookout for them on other suitable islands if the colony does not establish itself there.

We then headed to Hawk Inlet, where I've seen foraging Roseates on multiple occasions in the past few years. On the way to Hawk Inlet, 2 Roseates flew over us headed southwest (white arrow in map below). These Roseates appeared to fly over Cape Sable and over the ocean.

Cape Sable, Nova Scotia - May 19 2023 - Google image

Thank you, Alix, for this report.

May 23, 2023 - North Brother - by Macy d'Eon

As we arrived at the island on May 23rd, we estimated there to be roughly 500 terns. On that day we were able to conduct many directional observations watching the prey that was being brought to the island. During the observations there seemed to be an abundance of juvenile herring as well as lots of sandlance, mummichog, silverside and hake. We also saw an Arctic tern with a fish scrap for the first time!

We counted around 40 ROST and 10 ROST eggs in the boxes as well as one nest with one egg to the south! We estimated at least 100 tern eggs on the island. We found about a dozen predated tern eggs scattered throughout the colony, but this is a normal occurrence at this time in the breeding season. We also found two active Common Eider nests with 2 and 4 eggs. Overall, there seemed to be a lot of foraging and incubating starting.

Identified bands:

- Z10 (red band, right leg)
- L03 (red band, left leg)
- Z07 (red band, right leg)
- LD0 (red band, right leg)
- L35 (red band, left leg)
- Z26 (red band, left leg)
- L96 (red band, left leg)

We also saw a Common tern with a bright orange flag on the left leg and a federal band on the right.

Team: Alexis Saulnier, Luc Bilodeau & Macy d'Eon

Thank you, Macy for this report.

Common Terns with June Bug? - North Brother - May 23 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Terns in courtship behaviour - North Brother - May 23 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Terns in courtship behaviour - North Brother - May 23 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Arctic Tern with a fish scrap - North Brother - May 23 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

May 24, 2023 - North Brother - by Alexis Saulnier

We sailed to North Brother in the morning and estimated the colony at about 550 terns. Throughout our observations, we counted up to 44 Roseate terns on the island.

Before conducting directional observations from the blind, we placed GoPro cameras on Common and Arctic nests and found one dead Common tern on the eastern ridge which showed evidence of a broken neck, likely from a raptor attack.

Once in the blind, we observed a variety of different prey, including the typical juvenile herring, sandlance, mummichog, silverside, fish scraps, as well as two eels and one green crab.

The North and East were the directions with the most foraging activity during our observations.

Identified bands:

- L95 (red band, left leg)
- B25 (red band, right leg)
- T42 (yellow band, left leg)
- Z00 (red band, right leg)
- B40 (red band, right leg)
- LZ0 (red band, right leg)
- L94 (red band, left leg)

Team: Luc Bilodeau, Macy d'Eon & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, Alexis for this report.

Common Terns with fish scrap - North Brother - May 24 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Terns with American Eel - North Brother - May 24 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Terns with American Eel - North Brother - May 24 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Terns with crab - North Brother - May 24 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

May 27, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

Upon our arrival, we estimated the colony to be at 550-600 terns. We checked our monitored nests and found a total of 34 ROST nests! The progression of the nesting seems to be a few days earlier in comparison to the 2022 breeding season (17 nests on May 16th and 35 nests on May 30th).

The two Common Eider nests were active, and each had four and two eggs.

The most common prey observed were sandlance, herring and juvenile herring, silverside, and mummichog where most of the activity came from the North and East. However, there was a large variety of prey species being brought back to the island such as hake, shrimp, fish scraps, squid, three-spined stickleback, and a pipefish.

Identified bands:

- L32 (red band, right leg)
- BT0 (red band, right leg)
- LU1 (red band, right leg)
- L13 (red band, right leg)
- B19 (red band, right leg)
- BY0 (red band, right leg)
- B75 (red band, left leg)
- L53 (red band, right leg)
- BC1 (red band, right leg)
- BM1 (red band, right leg)

Team: Macy d'Eon, Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, team, and to Alexis for this report.

Common Tern with unconfirmed fish species - North Brother - May 27 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with pipefish - North Brother - May 27 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with herring - North Brother - May 27 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern bringing hake to its mate - North Brother - May 27 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

May 31, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Macy d'Eon

On May 31st, Alexis, Luc, and I estimated there to be 550 terns on the island. We did a couple hours of observations and noted that the terns were very quiet. Since we saw little to no courtship or copulation, we suspect that the pairs are well established and that individuals are taking turns foraging and incubating.

The prey species that were being brought back to the island were sandlance, hake, juvenile herring, mummichog, silverside, lumpfish, and even a couple of eels. We also observed a ROST with a mummichog, which we hadn't observed on North Brother before. The Roseate with the mummichog was lost from sight before we were able to confirm its recipient.

There was 43 ROST nests and 21 of them had two eggs. The Common Eider nests were both covered in down and had four and three eggs. One female Eider kept trying to creep up to her eggs during the time we were doing observations but never made it all the way to her nest.

Identified bands:

- L05 (red band, left leg)
- LU0 (red band, right leg)

Team: Alexis Saulnier, Luc Bilodeau & Macy d'Eon

Thank you, team, and to Macy for this report.

Common Tern with large fish scrap - North Brother - May 31 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Smoke from Barrington Lake fire (30 km away), North Brother - May 31 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau The largest forest fire in Nova Scotia's recorded history at 235 square kilometres!

Arctic Tern presenting juvenile herring to its mate, North Brother - May 31 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern with mummichog, North Brother - May 31 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with mummichog, North Brother - May 31 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with two sandlance - North Brother - May 31 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

June 2, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Macy d'Eon

As we arrived at North Brother Island, there was around 450-500 terns on the island. The day prior, Alexis, Luc and I went to Dennis Point Wharf where we observed roughly 70 terns diving and foraging for fish. While doing the directional observations, there was little data collected as the colony behaviour remained similar to our last visit.

There was a total of 73 ROST eggs in 50 nests, six of which were located outside of the nesting shelters. The most common prey on this day was silverside, hake, sandlance, juvenile herring, and mummichog.

The two Eider nests still had four and three eggs and were both active and covered in down. There were three female Eiders trying to creep up to their nests but there was no third nest found.

We identified a single band: BB1 (red band, right leg).

Team: Luc Bilodeau, Macy d'Eon & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, team, and to Macy for this report.

Common Tern with June bug - North Brother - June 2 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with silverside - North Brother - June 2 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern with sandlance - North Brother - June 2 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Arctic Tern with hake - North Brother - June 2 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

June 4, 2023 - Alix d'Entremont reports 7 Roseate Terns foraging north of Wharf #1 at Dennis Point, Lower West Pubnico.

June 7, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

We sailed to the island a little after noon to check on the colony and conduct directional observations after five days of rain and high winds. We estimated the colony to be between 250 and 300 terns however, this represents only a portion of the birds present as many would stay incubating on their nests during a flush. Five female Common Eiders also flushed the island upon our arrival.

As we began doing our rounds of the monitored nests, we found the remains of a Common tern to the northeast of the hollow, which was the result of predation. We found 15 ARTE nests with either missing (11) or predated (4) eggs. While checking the nesting shelters, we found a deceased ROST in box 47. There were no clear signs of predation nor of Avian Influenza. Nonetheless, we collected the carcass to send to a lab for testing. The ROST was banded with a red PFR L81, which was last reported on North Brother Island in 2019 (photographed by Ted D'Eon and Julie McKnight). No evidence of Avian Influenza - behavioural or physical - was observed on the island.

Aside from the predated eggs and the two deceased adults, the state of the colony was well. We found a new ROST nest in the shelters, for a total of 51 nests thus far, and all previously marked ROST eggs were accounted for.

We found a third active Common Eider nest to the northeast of the island containing four eggs. An egg from both previously marked Eider nests had rolled out or been buried, resulting in non-viable eggs. However, the remainder of the eggs in the nests were warm.

After collecting data from the weather station and our trail camera on site, we left the island.

Team: Luc Bilodeau, Macy d'Eon & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, team, and to Alexis for this report.

June 8, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

Luc and I arrived at North Brother to conduct directional observations while Shawn and Macy were doing an at-sea survey in the Pubnico Harbour. We estimated the colony at 375-400 terns. We didn't find any dead terns on the island and didn't observe any odd behaviour indicative of Avian Influenza.

Our directional and general prey observations were few, as the terns spent most of our visit incubating. As for prey, we saw mostly sandlance coming from the south, as well as some juvenile herring and hake.

We also observed a Black-legged kittiwake loafing on the submerged rocks to the west at high tide.

Identified bands:

- LM1 (red band, right leg)
- L12 (red band, right leg)
- B39 (red band, right leg)

Team: Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, Luc and Alexis, and to Alexis for this report.

Common Tern with sandlance - North Brother - June 8, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with mummichog - North Brother - June 8, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Black-legged Kittiwake - North Brother - June 8, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Arctic Tern with hake - North Brother - June 8, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Arctic Tern with sandlance - North Brother - June 8 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

June 8, 2023 - At-sea survey report - by Macy d'Eon

Shawn and I started the at-sea survey at Dennis Point Wharf. We began our observations heading toward the south point of West Pubnico and crossed the harbour towards East Pubnico. Terns have been seen foraging in these areas in the past. However, this survey revealed no observations to the south of Dennis Point: neither East nor West Pubnico.

Our first observed tern divings were North of Dennis Point towards Île à Picote. We had many observations around the small islands and all the way along the shore back to the wharf. There were both COTE and ROST foraging in these areas though we were not able to see any of the fish. We also saw a tern diving repeatedly in what seemed to be grass. However, when we got out to have a look, we found many small tide pools with hundreds of juvenile herring stuck inside from the high tides.

Team: Shawn Craik & Macy d'Eon

Thank you, Shawn and Macy, and to Macy for this report.

June 8, 2023 - Pinch Gut and Green Island (Île-aux-Fraises) - Alix d'Entremont Facebook report.

Bertin D'Eon and I completed some tern nest counts this morning. There were 54 Common Tern nests on Pinch Gut and 12 on Green Island (Île-aux-Fraises).

There were many nest scrapes on Green Island, so it seems that this colony was started late. Green Island was recently acquired by the Nova Scotia Nature Trust.

We are still following Avian Influenza protocols and use Spray Nine to disinfect our boots between islands.

Thank you Alix and Bertin.

The landing on Pinch Gut Island, NS, June 8 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Common Eider nest on Pinch Gut Island, NS, June 8 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Common Eider nest on Pinch Gut Island, NS, June 8 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Black Guillemot nest on Green Island, NS, June 8 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Strawberry Plants on Green Island (Île-aux-Fraises), NS, June 8 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

June 9, 2023 - Annual tern nest count on North Brother - by Alexis Saulnier

We made our way over to the island mid-morning to conduct the official NBI nest count with Shawn, Julie, Ted, Macy, Luc, and myself (Alexis). On our arrival, we estimated the colony at 400, but this only represents a partial flush of the terns on the island.

Before starting, we found a deceased Common tern on the northeastern ridge with a wound to the head. We do not suspect this to be an attack from a raptor given the nature of the wound. We also found a second deceased Common tern on the southwestern ridge near a nest. We could not identify a cause of death for this bird either. Both terns were collected and have been sent to a laboratory for testing.

Aside from the deceased terns, there is no evidence to suggest that the colony has been affected by Avian Influenza.

We also found three more active Common Eider (COEI) nests among the ARTE and COTE nesting area along the northern ridge. Our three new nests contained four, three, and six eggs. Our first two monitored COEI nests were cold.

Though there had been considerable predation among the ARTE nesting area in the week or so before the count, which is reflected in the data, we had a very successful count and the colony looks strong! Of the 30 monitored ARTE nests, 11 were destroyed in the span of 5 days. Though, I would guess that the total predated nests are between a minimum of 25-30 nests.

There were no chicks on the day of the count but we’re expecting to see the first ones this coming week.

Our official numbers for the 2023 nest count are:

COTE
Total nests: 587
Total eggs: 1250
Avg. egg/nest: 2.13

ARTE
Total nests:  38
Total eggs:   60
Avg. egg/nest: 1.58

ROST
Total nests:  51
Total eggs:   74
Avg. egg/nest: 1.45

Totals
Nests:       676
Eggs:       1384
Avg. egg/nest: 2.05

Thank you, Alexis for this report; a thank you also to Julie McKnight, Shawn Craik, Luc Bilodeau and Macy d'Eon to allow me tag along with them for this nest count. Ted

The crew: Alexis, Shawn, Julie, Macy, and Luc North Brother - June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Dead Common Tern with head injury - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Predated Common Tern nest - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Counting Tern nests - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Shawn marking counted nest with popsicle stick - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Shawn marking another tern nest with popsicle stick - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Common Tern on nest - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Common Eider nest - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Shawn Craik pointing out a Spotted Sandpiper nest - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Spotted Sandpiper nest - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Roseate Terns - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Roseate Terns - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

The gang with me in the middle - North Brother, June 9 2023 - photo by Shawn Craik

June 9, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

We returned to the island in the afternoon to conduct directional observations and deploy GoPro cameras. There was little prey to be observed, nonetheless, sandlance was still the most common prey.

During our visit, we observed two separate Black-legged kittiwakes - one on the western shore and one to the south - both loafing on rocks at high tide. We later spotted a Sabine's gull that joined the Common terns preening on the rocks near the shore.

A considerable amount of copulation was observed by both Common and Roseate terns, so we expect more nests to be established in the coming days. One instance of copulation involved two Roseates - one banded T42 and one unbanded - where we presumed the yellow banded T42 to be female.

Identified bands:

- Z04 (red band, right leg) 
- LY0 (red band, right leg) 
- B33 (red band, right leg) 
- L40 (red band, left leg) 

Thank you, Team, and to Alexis for this report.

Common Tern with unidentified fish - North Brother - June 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Second-year Black-legged Kittiwake - North Brother - June 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Arctic Tern with sandlance - North Brother - June 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Adult Black-legged Kittiwake - North Brother - June 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Sabine's Gull - North Brother - June 9 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

Roseate Tern 133U - North Brother - June 9, 2023 - photo by Julie McKnight

Roseate Tern 133U - North Brother - June 9, 2023 - photo by Julie McKnight Thank you Julie

June 9, 2023 - Sheep Island (one the islands off of Smithsville, Shelburne County, NS) - Facebook post by Alix d'Entremont.

After a decade of seeing American Oystercatchers in the Smithsville/Crow Neck Beach area including the islands off Smithsville, we have finally confirmed a nest. The first observation of this species on the islands off Smithsville is from Aug 2013. This nest is the first confirmed nesting of American Oystercatcher in Nova Scotia away from Cape Sable Island and nearby islands (e.g., Cape Sable).

Bertin D'Eon and I were just starting a tern nest census on Sheep Island when he noted an American Oystercatcher on the northern shore of the island. As we approached the tern colony site, we saw a single large egg on the seaweed. The size, colour and pattern matched that of the American Oystercatcher.

Oystercatcher eggs are about 2.2" in length while Common Tern eggs are 1.65" long (Birds of the World). Once we finished the tern nest census, we left the area and observed from a distance. Two American Oystercatchers showed up and one slowly walked over to the nest site and sat to incubate.

Here is the eBird checklist with more photos: https://ebird.org/checklist/S140980755

American Oystercatcher nest - Sheep Island, Shelburne County, NS, June 9 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

American Oystercatcher nest - Sheep Island, Shelburne County, NS, June 9 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Thank you, Alix and Bertin.

June 12, 2023 - North Brother and Pubnico Harbour trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

We made our way to North Brother for observations and to deploy GoPros while Shawn did an at-sea survey in the Pubnico Harbour.

Macy and I found no dead terns since our last visit and no odd behaviour was noted while we set up the cameras.

There was little prey to report, however sandlance was once again the most common prey. We also saw some mummichog, shrimp, and a few herring and hake.

Early during our observations, a probable Parasitic Jaeger caused the terns to flush towards the south. The Jaeger didn't approach the island any further but chased one tern far to the west of the island for about a minute before continuing towards the north.

Shawn observed a mixed flock of terns (COTE and one ROST) foraging directly north of Dennis Point Wharf. There was a very high density of small fish - possibly herring - near the wharf where the terns were seen diving. There was no evidence of shoals of fish on the sonar and no foraging terns were observed to the south of the harbour.

Identified bands:

  
- L40 (red band, left leg) 
- L08 (red band, right leg) 
- Z23 (red band, left leg) 

Thank you, Team, and to Alexis for this report.

Common Tern with sandlance - North Brother - June 12, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with shrimp - North Brother - June 12, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern with sandlance - North Brother - June 12 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

June 12, 2023 - near Johns Island, Shelburne County, NS) - Facebook post by Alix d'Entremont.

Alix writes:

While looking for foraging Roseate Terns around John's Island, Shelburne County, Kathleen MacAulay and I watched this immature Parasitic Jaeger fly by us headed southeast towards Wood's Harbour.

Parasitic Jaeger near Johns Island, Shelburne County, NS, June 12, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Thank you, Alix and Kathleen.

June 13, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Macy d'Eon

We arrived on the island in the early afternoon and estimated roughly 500 terns. We were able to do a couple hours of directional observations and a variety of prey was observed on the island. We saw some sandlance, herring, hake, mummichog, and shrimp. We also had uncommon observations such as insects and very small fish. There was no clear predominant prey for the day.

We discovered four COTE chicks while checking our monitored nests. These mark our first chicks for the season. We haven't found any new ROST nests, but we expect to see more in the next week or so.

One COEI nest was no longer active, but the three remaining nests contain four, three, and seven eggs.

We also spotted a pair of copulating terns: a ROST and a hybrid. Julie also spotted a hybrid paired with a COTE.

A single band was identified: Z27 (red band, left leg).

Team: Julie McKnight, Macy d'Eon, Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, Team, and to Macy for this report.

Arctic Tern with June bug - North Brother - June 13, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with hake - North Brother - June 13, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Terns with flying ant - North Brother - June 13, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Arctic Tern with flying ant - North Brother - June 13, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with mummichog - North Brother - June 13, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with Three-spined Stickleback - North Brother - June 13, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with herring - North Brother - June 13 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

Hybrid Roseate-Common Tern - North Brother - June 13, 2023 - photo by Julie McKnight

Club-footed Roseate Tern - North Brother - June 13, 2023 - photo by Julie McKnight

Roseate Tern with black mark on leg - North Brother - June 13, 2023 - photo by Julie McKnight

Roseate Tern 1V51 - North Brother - June 13, 2023 - photo by Julie McKnight

Roseate Tern 1V51 - North Brother - June 13, 2023 - photo by Julie McKnight Thank you Julie

June 16, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Macy d'Eon

Upon our arrival we estimated there to be roughly 500 terns on the island. As more chicks are starting to hatch, there was a lot of foraging happening on June 16th. Alexis and I were able to do 3 hours of directional observations where we both saw much more foraging coming from the North and East than from the South and West. The herring was definitely the prey that was most observed on this day, as well as a bit of sandlance and mummichog.

Identified bands:

- L93 (red band, left leg) 
- JW6 (yellow band, left leg) 
- B65 (red band, left leg) 

Team: Alexis Saulnier, Luc Bilodeau & Macy d'Eon 

Thank you Alexis, Luc, and Macy.

Email update on leg band JW6 (yellow band, left leg) from Dr. Jeffrey Spendelow, June 29, 2023.

"... the Roseate Tern with the Yellow JW6 PFR band that was seen on 16 June at North Brother Island in southwestern Nova Scotia was banded by Pedro Lima at Igrapiuna, Brazil with Brazilian band H104856 on 28 Oct. 2022."

Thank you, Jeff, for this update.

Dr Jeffrey A. Spendelow has been studying Roseate Terns (ROST) (Sterna dougallii) since he helped start the Falkner Island Tern Project (FITP) in 1978. In 1981 changed the focus of the project to concentrate on Roseate Tern research due to concerns about the declining North Atlantic breeding population of this species. (text from https://menunkatuck.org March 2023)

Common Tern feeding juvenile herring to chick - North Brother - June 16, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Terns with large moth - North Brother - June 16, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with mummichog - North Brother - June 16, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Terns with a double catch of silverside - North Brother - June 16, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern arriving with herring - North Brother - June 16, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

June 17, 2023 - Coffin Island and Toby Island in Queens County, NS

Queens County Tern Colony Update - Presumed Hybrid ROST - Email post by Alix d'Entremont (June 18, 2023).

Bertin d'Eon and I visited Coffin Island and Toby Island in Queens County yesterday to do nest counts of tern colonies and look for Roseates. Both of these islands have hosted good-sized tern colonies in the past with small numbers of Roseates present then. There were to terns nesting on Toby, but we did count 33 nests of Common and Arctic Tern on Coffin.

Also on Coffin Island was an interesting Roseate type tern (see photos below). The call had the quality of the Roseate snarl/chivik, but didn't sound like either in pattern. We never heard it give a true chivik call. The outer tail feathers project about half as far past the primary tips as a typical Roseate. The bill base was unusually extensively reddish for this time of year. Four dark (retained) outer primaries were visible vs. the more typical three in ROST. I know there is overlap in this last feature between pure Common and Roseate. The upperpart and underpart colour was similar to that of Roseate.

See the eBird checklist for Coffin Island:https://ebird.org/checklist/S141862210

Thank you, Alix and Bertin.

Probable Roseate Tern hybrid, Coffin Island, June 17, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Probable Roseate Tern hybrid, Coffin Island, June 17, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Probable Roseate Tern hybrid, Coffin Island, June 17, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Probable Roseate Tern hybrid, Coffin Island, June 17, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Probable Roseate Tern hybrid, Coffin Island, June 17, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont Thank you Alix

Through email, Dr Jeffrey Spendelow writes on June 19, 2023, "Hi Alix: I agree with you about that bird being a hybrid. Helen Hays published a paper about COTE-ROST hybrids in "The Auk" many years ago." (see https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v092n02/p0219-p0234.pdf ).

June 19, 2023 - Gull Rock Banded Arctic Tern - Email post by Alix d'Entremont (June 22, 2023).

Kathleen MacAulay, Bertin D'Eon and I saw a banded Arctic Tern (Black on white, Y37; 9802-82582) incubating a single egg on Gull Rock, Shelburne County, on June 19, 2023. It was banded as a chick on Country Island on June 26, 2019.

Also on Gull Rock was a female Common Eider incubating on Grey Island that had been fitted with a satellite transmitter (PTT) in May 2023 as part of a project led by Scott Gilliland of CWS. The project includes Maine, NB, NS, QC and NL and involves multiple organizations. The devices were implanted by Dr. Glenn Olsen and Dr. Kathleen MacAulay.

See the eBird checklist for our Gull Rock visit: https://ebird.org/checklist/S142101921

Thank you, Alix, Kathleen, and Bertin.

Arctic Tern nest, Gull Rock, June 19, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Arctic Tern nest, Gull Rock, June 19, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Arctic Tern Y37, Gull Rock, June 19, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Arctic Tern Y37, Gull Rock, June 19, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont Thank you, Alix

June 20, 2023 - Sandwich Tern at Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct, Queen's County, NS - Alix d'Entremont

Alix writes:

Kathleen MacAulay and I launched the Zodiac from Port Mouton and made our way to the boundary of Keji Seaside Adjunct. We motored along the entire 20 km coastline looking for Bank Swallows for Parks Canada. We found none. There isn't much good habitat, but I was expecting to find a few at a location where burrows were seen in October 2021.

The first good find of the day was a Pomarine Jaeger resting on the beach next to a Bald Eagle eating a seal. Soon after, we had a Sandwich Tern foraging with a group of Common Terns.

We then moved to Port Mouton Island to look for Bank Swallows. Fortunately, there were about seven burrows at the northern end and three birds. While going up the eastern side of the island we happened upon a Laughing Gull.

Thank you Alix and Kathleen.

Bald Eagle feeding on seal, Pomarine Jeager to the right, Little Port Joli Beach, June 20, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Sandwich Tern, Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct, June 20, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Sandwich Tern, Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct, June 20, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont Thank you Alix

June 21, 2023 - Flat, Round, and Mud Islands - Facebook post by Alix d'Entremont.

This morning, Kathleen MacAulay, uncle Ellis d'Entremont and I crossed a very calm Lobster Bay and landed on Flat Island to census the tern colony there. We did find 16 tern nests, but many were in tall vegetation so we decided to abandon the count since there was a high risk of stepping on the nests.

After seeing a territorial pair of Laughing Gulls on Flat on September 4, 2022, we thought there was a chance we might find a nest this year. We visited on April 29, 2023, but did not see any Laughing Gulls. Today we were thrilled to have found a Laughing Gull nest with one egg. Today's nest along with a pair that nested on Sable Island in 2001 and 2003-2009 are the only confirmed breeding records of the species in the province since 1941 when a colony was present on the Bird Islands off Harrigan Cove, Halifax County. I visited the Bird Islands in July 2017 and while there were terns, alcids and storm-petrels nesting, there were still no Laughing Gulls.

We then landed on Round Island and counted 76 nests (almost all Arctic Terns). There, Ellis found a Spotted Sandpiper nest with eggs and Kathleen had a Savannah Sparrow nest with nestlings. We also saw two late-staying Harlequin Ducks.

Kathleen and Ellis on Flat Island, June 21, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Laughing Gull on Flat Island, June 21, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Laughing Gull nest, Flat Island, June 21, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Spotted Sandpiper nest, Round Island, June 21, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Savannah Sparrow nest with nestlings, Round Island, June 21, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Out-of-season Harlequin Ducks, Round Island, June 21, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Lunch time on Mud Island, June 21, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont Thank you Alix

June 21, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Macy d'Eon

As Luc and I arrived at the island, we estimated there to be over 500 terns. While doing our directional observations, most of the foraging activity came from the East. The most common prey from the East was herring. There were also a few larger silversides that were observed coming from the North. I was also able to observe many ROSTs come in with fish (mostly herring).

Around 10:30 there was an adult male Norther Harrier that came from the East and grabbed a chick from the southwest side of the island.

Identified bands: 

- Y85 (red band, left leg) 
- Z62 (red band, right leg)

Team: Luc Bilodeau & Macy d'Eon 

Thank you, Luc and Macy.

Roseate Tern B65 with pollock - North Brother - June 21, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern chick with herring - North Brother - June 21, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with hake - North Brother - June 21, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with fish scrap - North Brother - June 21, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern with herring - North Brother - June 21, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with marine invertebrate - North Brother - June 21, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

June 21, 2023 - At-sea survey - by Alexis Saulnier

Shawn and I conducted an at-sea survey by kayak to look for foraging terns. We had a total of 32 confirmed foraging sites: 22 COTE and 10 ROST. The entirety of our sightings were located around Île-à-Picote and surrounding small rocky outcrops, as well as along the western shore of the Pubnico Harbour leading back to Dennis Point Wharf.

Upon our arrival back to the wharf, we observed between eight and ten COTE dipping for fish discards at an effluent pipe with both Herring and Great Black-Backed gulls. We even had our first observation of an ARTE dipping in the immediate area for fish scraps.

Team: Shawn Craik & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, Shawn and Alexis.

June 22, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

We arrived on North Brother Island with the intention of banding ROST chicks, however we had to update our plan as there was a considerable volume of chick mortality. While touring the island to verify our monitored nests, we found that most COTE chicks aged between zero and five days old were dead or dying. To date, no ARTE chicks have been observed. Though we found four dead ROST chicks in the nesting shelters, they seemed to have fared better than the COTE. The cause of death for these chicks is unclear but we collected nine recently deceased chicks for analysis (two ROST & seven COTE). Some of the dying chicks' behaviour showed signs of possible Avian Influenza (i.e., weakness, lack of coordination and balance, head bobbing, and tremors). However, no adults exhibited any such behaviour nor were any found dead. We also remarked that many older chicks (aged five to 12 days) seemed unaffected.

After we left the island, we decided to not return and give the terns a few days undisturbed as to not exacerbate stress.

From the shore, we observed an adult male Northern Harrier successfully capture a chick from the western ridge. The colony was more aggressive upon the Harrier's arrival than on the 21st and half a dozen COTE followed it back to shore where they continued mobbing it until it moved on with its prey.

We hope to find a strong and recovering colony on our next visit.

Team: Shawn Craik, Macy d'Eon, Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, Shawn, Macy, Luc, and Alexis.

June 25, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

We estimated about 300-350 terns flushing the island during our visit to North Brother. Our only goal was to verify the ROST nesting shelters and evaluate the overall health of the colony following the observations of June 22nd.

While there was still evidence of young chick mortality, the adults and older chicks remain seemingly unaffected. The rate of mortality was higher among the COTE chicks than the ROST. We collected two more recently deceased ROST carcasses to send for testing along with the samples from last Thursday.

While walking the outer edge of the colony, we found evidence of predation of an adult COTE by a Great Horned Owl. No other evidence of predation was observed on the island.

PPE was used by all team members to reduce the risk of possibly contracting and spreading the presumed HPAI. We also implemented strict hygiene practices and equipment sanitization after our visit to the island.

Team: Shawn Craik, Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, Shawn, Luc, and Alexis.

.

July 1, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

On July 1st, we returned to island after nearly a week of rain, which limited any visits. A maximum of 125 terns flushed the island on our arrival. We also noticed about 65 terns loafing on the rocks to the southeast of the island, which is normally where the terns who have finished breeding wait to migrate.

Vegetation was a limiting factor as the invasive radish took over the ROST and COTE nesting region over our week of absence. There didn't seem to be more chick or adult mortality and the ROST nesting section seemed particularly strong in terms of foraging and chick provisioning activity. From the blind, Shawn and I spend a few hours confirming which nesting shelters were still active while the fog limited directional observations. We were pleased to see that most active shelters identified upon our last visit still housed living ROST chicks. The adult ROSTs were particularly active bringing back prey for their chicks. The ratio of ROST to COTE and ARTE feedings was far higher than previously observed on the island this season. On multiple occasions, we observed ROST arriving with double catches of herring and sandlance, and even a triple catch of herring. A few ARTEs and many COTE chicks of all ages were also visible and seemed healthy.

Herring and sandlance were the most observed prey with a notable exception: flying ants. Towards mid-afternoon, COTE and ARTE started progressively bringing more ants at an impressive feeding rate. We noticed that the terns were dipping for these ants off the north-northeast shore of the island. Towards the end of our observation block, ants were nearly the only prey being fed to chicks. We even noticed a few ROST joining the ant foraging opportunity and bringing them to their chicks.

Identified bands:

- B95 (red band, right leg)
- LR0 (red band, right leg)
- Y70 (red band, left leg)

Team: Shawn Craik, Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you, Shawn, Luc, and Alexis.

Roseate Tern arriving with herring amid barely visible nesting shelters North Brother - July 1, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern B39 with sandlance - North Brother - July 1, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with shrimp - North Brother - July 1, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Arctic Tern feeding flying ant to chick - North Brother - July 1, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern feeding flying ant to chick - North Brother - July 1, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate chick receiving double catch of sandlance - North Brother - July 1, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern with triple catch of herring (chick is eating third herring) North Brother - July 1, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern with flying ant; the first observation of this kind on North Brother July 1, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern dipping for flying ants - North Brother - July 1, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau Thank you, Luc

July 3 and 4, 2023 - Dennis Pt. Wharf and North Brother Island Recent Observations - Email post by Alix d'Entremont.

On July 3, Kathleen MacAulay and I watched the terns foraging north of wharf #1 for about 30 minutes. We had a high count of 14 Roseates with a slightly smaller number of Commons and one Arctic. Three Roseates were seen headed back over the peninsula with fish. We had 1-2 Commons and 1 Arctic that did the same. Most fish caught were being eaten and not brought to the colony.

On July 4, Kathleen, Bertin d'Eon and I swung by North Brother on our way to Bon Portage Island. About 100 terns flushed from the island. We were able to confirm about 8 Roseates – up to four of these were loafing on the beach on the northern side with other terns. We watched for adults returning to the island from the south and east with prey. We had four Roseates, 2 Commons and 1 Arctic carrying food back to the colony. The low number of terns seen at the colony and the high proportion of Roseates returning with food seems unusual. The weather station at home near Abbott's Harbour reported 66 mm of rain on July 3. I'm sure that was hard on the chicks, especially those without shelter.

Thank you Alix, Kathleen, and Bertin.

July 6, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

We arrived to find roughly 100 terns on the island, though most were loafing on the rocks to the north and south at low tide. We set out to check all monitored nests, place GoPros on ROST nesting shelters, as well as conduct directional observations and take photographic data.

While checking the monitored nests, we found few COTE and ARTE chicks in unmarked nests - seven and one, respectively - and most abandoned eggs had been predated. We suspect more COTE chicks might be found deeper in the dense vegetation to the south, however, to minimize disturbances, we decided to forgo thoroughly checking this area. In the ROST nesting shelters, we found 19 chicks, down from 32 on June 25th, all of them at an estimated age of eight days and up. All of these chicks were healthy and showed no signs of diminished capacities. A few of them outran us while trying to contain them to their nesting shelter.

Though there was little feeding activity, the main foraged species while observing for prey were herring and sandlance.

One COTE chick was predated by a Herring Gull near the end of our observations and was then followed by three Great Black-Backed gulls attempting to steal the chick.

While the numbers of the colony are decreasing, we see no signs of Avian Influenza or other infections.

Team: Luc Bilodeau, Macy d'Eon & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you Luc, Macy, and Alexis.

Roseate Tern arriving with pollock - North Brother - July 6, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern chick receiving sandlance - North Brother - July 6, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern with stickleback - North Brother - July 6, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern with quadruple catch of sandlance North Brother - July 6, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

July 9, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Macy d'Eon

There were approximately 100 terns on the island when they flushed. Alexis, Luc, and I did two hours of directional observations as well as set GoPros on ROST nests. There seemed to be less COTE and ARTE than on previous visits but ROSTs were still arriving from foraging with prey. Alexis was able to spot one ROST chick that was able to fly.

There was very little data collected during our directional observation. Prey was observed coming in from the East and South, and the most common prey was sandlance, with a few herring and hake. There were a few double and triple catches of sandlances that were seen flying around.

While doing observation, we noticed a few Gulls loafing near the water's edge that continuously flew by looking for chicks to capture. Most times, the terns would defend and mob the Gulls. However, we did see one chick - that we suspect being the first fledged ROST chick - picked up by a Great Black-Backed Gull. A Northern Harrier also passed by the island but was chased away.

Team: Alexis Saulnier, Luc Bilodeau & Macy d'Eon

Thank you Alexis, Luc, and Macy.

Roseate Tern with triple catch of sandlance North Brother - July 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern chick receiving a double catch of sandlance North Brother - July 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern arriving with herring - North Brother - July 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Common Tern chick self-foraging possiblr marine invertebrate or amphipod North Brother - July 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Tern chick awaiting prey delivery - North Brother July 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern with quadruple catch of sandlance North Brother - July 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern mobbing Great Black-backed Gull - North Brother - July 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern BC1 with chick on northeastern ridge North Brother - July 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern with triple catch of sandlance North Brother - July 9, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

July 9, 2023 - Cape Sable - Email post by Alix d'Entremont.

Kathleen MacAulay, Logan Moore and I visited Cape Sable today (July 9, 2023). The patchy fog made for difficult viewing conditions, but we were able to do a nest count when the fog lifted a bit at one point. There was a total of 29 nests (18 x 1 egg, 10 x 2 eggs, 1 x 2 chicks). Half of the roughly 100 terns in the area were loafing on the nearby beach and the rest were on nests. Most nests appeared to be those of Arctics since many adults were seen incubating and the nests looked better for that species. Only one nest had any chicks and the rest had only eggs. There were at least five nest scrapes.

Before doing the nest count, we were able to get images of two ROST PFRs: Red L96 left leg (9822-52917) and Red L12 right leg (9822-51546). There were at least four ROST with PFRs, but the foggy conditions didn't allow for all codes to be read. After doing the count, we walked back to the Zodiac along the beach and were able to get a maximum count of 11 ROST. There may have been two more, but the fog was thick at that time, so we couldn't confirm. We saw no evidence that any of the ROST were breeding there.

We didn't visit Hawk Inlet where I've seen terns foraging during past years. I'll check it out on another day with less fog.

See the photos below (ROST and ARTE nest). Here is the eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S144047665

Thank you Alix, Kathleen, and Logan.

Roseate Tern, L12, Cape Sable, July 9, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Roseate Tern, L96, Cape Sable, July 9, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Some of the Roseate Terns, Cape Sable, July 9, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Arctic Tern nest, Cape Sable, July 9, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont Thank you, Alix

July 10, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Macy d'Eon

There were approximately 50 terns on the island. We set GoPros and were able to do two and a half hours of directional observations.

There was not much prey observed which is expected with the low number of terns. The only directions that had any observations were East and South.

The most common prey were sandlance and herring.

Team: Alexis Saulnier, Luc Bilodeau & Macy d'Eon

Thank you Alexis, Luc, and Macy.

July 12, 2023 - Cape Sable trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

We made our way to The Cape where we observed ROST foraging for sandlance, as well as ARTE and COTE bringing hake and mummichog to the colony. As Alix had previously reported, we found a colony counting roughly 60 terns COTE and ARTE, with up to 14 ROSTs loafing on the shore nearby.

Bands identified by Alix and Luc's photos:

- BZ0 (red band, right leg)
- BY0 (red band, right leg)
- LY0 (red band, right leg)
- single fed (right leg)
- single fed (left leg, right leg stump)
- double fed

Team: Alix d'Entremont, Julie McKnight, Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you Alix, Julie, Luc, and Alexis.

Roseate Tern BZ0, Cape Sable, July 12, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern with right stumped/clubbed foot Cape Sable - July 12, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

HY (Hatch Year) Arctic Tern, Cape Sable - July 12, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

July 13, 2023 - At-sea survey trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

During our at-sea survey, we saw a ROST-only flock counting 12 ROST foraging sandlance near Sunken Ledge. Large shoals of fish were observed all around the boat. Four COTE were seen passing through the flock heading south. Up to 16 ROST were seen at once at this location, though not all terns were foraging.

After a few minutes, the terns settled on the rocks long enough for Alix and Luc to take photos of the following bands:

- C43 (red band, left leg)
- Z23 (red band, left leg)
- BL0 (red band, right leg)
- LR0 (red band, right leg)
- T42 (yellow band, left leg)
- single fed (right leg)
- COTE with single fed (right leg)

No terns were observed at The Ball bar. Two ROST were observed foraging around the bar at John's Island and two more left flying south-southwest as we approached. One COTE flew over the surveyed area but did not attempt to forage. Two ROST were foraging either small sandlance or hake to the east of John's Island, where they demonstrated courtship behaviour on a nearby rock. Slightly further south of the previous site, a group of six ROST were foraging. Three more ROST were observed foraging to the southeast of John's.

Team: Alix d'Entremont, Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you Alix, Luc, and Alexis.

Roseate Tern foraging sandlance at Sunken Ledge - July 13, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

Roseate Tern BL0 - Sunken Ledge - July 13, 2023 - photo by Luc Bilodeau

July 13, 2023 - Pubnico Harbour survey trip report - by Macy d'Eon

During the at sea survey Shawn and I did not observe any terns to the south of the harbour. We saw a couple of terns flying along East Pubnico but no diving or dipping.

Once we arrived to Ile à Picote, we observed a dozen COTEs sitting on rocks. While working our way back towards the wharf we saw two ROSTs and we were able to observe 4 COTEs diving for fish, all in proximity. Two of the observations had fish that Shawn and I could not identify but seemed to be herring or hake.

Team: Shawn Craik & Macy d'Eon

Thank you Shawn and Macy.

July 14, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

Only six terns - all ROST - were seen upon arrival to North Brother. On previous visits, most feeding activity had been observed on the western ridge nearer the shore, which is not directly visible from the blind. In order to minimize disturbance, we conducted general provisioning observations from the boat on the north-northwest side of the island.

We were able to identify feedings in three separate locations on the island, all of them ROST returning with sandlance. We could hear two chicks prior to prey deliveries, though we estimate there to be a maximum of four chicks remaining on the island. We saw only one chick who was starting to fly for small bouts of time as we were heading back to shore.

Team: Shawn Craik, Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you Shawn, Luc, and Alexis.

July 14, 2023 - Sunken Ledge/Bon Portage - Email post by Alix d'Entremont.

Bertin d'Eon and I visited Bon Portage Island this morning to check on the tern colony. Before landing on the island, we stopped at Sunken Ledge. There were a total of four Roseates at or near Sunken Ledge, three of which had PFRs (see below), and one was unbanded.

Red LM1, right leg (DSC_9933.jpg).
Red B19, right leg (DSC_9898.jpg).
Red B76, left leg (9822-51512, DSC_9951.jpg).

The tern colony at BP appears to have failed. We had at least 15 empty nests and one dead chick. There was a group of about 50 terns loafing on the western beach at the northern pond (near the tern colony site). Five adult Roseates were seen among the group of loafing terns. These were counted once the group flushed early during our visit. After looking through the shorebirds, we walked closer to the group of loafing terns and that is when we saw a HY Roseate (DSC_0287.jpg) and then observed an adult coming to feed it (DSC_0225.jpg). The adult left and then it, or another, returned later on without food and sat next to the HY. The adult Roseate(s) had a PFR band, but the code isn't clear in the images (DSC_0307.jpg, DSC_0318.jpg). Please let me know if you can make it out. See the eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S144526240

Thank you Alix and Bertin.

Roseate Tern, LM1, Sunken Ledge, July 14, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Roseate Tern, B19, Sunken Ledge, July 14, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Roseate Tern, B76, Sunken Ledge, July 14, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

HY (Hatch Year) Roseate Tern, Bon Portage, July 14, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

HY (Hatch Year) Roseate Tern being fed by adult, Bon Portage, July 14, 2023 photo by Alix d'Entremont

Banded Roseate Tern (unclear Plastic Field Readable (PFR) band), Bon Portage, July 14, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Banded Roseate Tern (unclear Plastic Field Readable (PFR) band), Bon Portage, July 14, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

July 30, 2023 - Cape Sable, Nova Scotia - Email post by Alix d'Entremont.

Kathleen MacAulay and I visited Cape Sable this morning. We had an estimated 15 Roseate Terns in the tern colony area with about 30 Arctics and 20 Commons. All three species of tern were seen carrying fish but only Common Tern chicks (at least four) were seen. At least 2 Roseates were carrying fish and courtship behaviours were observed–both on the ground and in the air. I believe most of the prey carried by the terns was sandlance. The Roseates were mostly landing within the tern colony and a few were in the loafing area at the water's edge. We watched Roseates carrying fish on multiple occasions, however, we did not observe them feeding young and no young Roseates were seen in the area at all. Unlike previous recent years, when many second-year/third-year Arctics were seen at Cape Sable, there was only one today.

Since most Roseates were not landing at the loafing area near the water, it was difficult to photograph bands, but I did manage to get a few. Note the yellow band with HR6 that I believe is new for NS. I've attached images of all four PFRs and two photos of Roseates carrying food (see below).

Red Z26, Left Leg
1392-31643, Sex unknown
-Banded as a chick on North Brother on July 16, 2020
-Seen on North Brother Island on May 23, 2023

Red BJ0, Right Leg
9822-53288, Sex unknown
-Banded as a chick on North Brother Island June 25, 2019
-Seen at Sunken Ledge on July 31, 2022

Yellow HR6, Left Leg

Red Z29, Left Leg
1392-31647, Sex unknown
-Banded as a chick on North Brother on July 16, 2020
-Seen at North Brother Island on June 13, 2023

We also checked Hawk Inlet, where I've seen HY Roseates on rocks waiting to be fed in late July and early August. We had no terns foraging in this area and only had two fly-by Commons/Arctics.

Thank you Alix and Kathleen.

Roseate Tern, BJ0, Cape Sable, July 30, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Roseate Tern, Yellow HR6, Cape Sable, July 30, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Roseate Tern, Z26, Cape Sable, July 30, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Roseate Tern, Z29, Cape Sable, July 30, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Roseate Terns with sandlance, Cape Sable, July 30, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

Roseate Tern with sandlance, Cape Sable, July 30, 2023 - photo by Alix d'Entremont

August 1, 2023 - North Brother trip report - by Alexis Saulnier

We sailed to NBI to measure the vegetation in the treatment and control plots treated with a hypersaline solution prior to the breeding season. In comparison to control plots, it seems the hypersaline solution has had a considerable effect on the density of invasive vegetation.

The final ROST chick, seen on July 20th on a prior attempt to evaluate the growth on test plots, had since left the island. We estimate that six ROST chicks fledged and made it off North Brother this year. Both COTE and ARTE reproduction seemed to have failed due to abandonment and chick predation.

Team: Shawn Craik, Macy d'Eon, Luc Bilodeau & Alexis Saulnier

Thank you Shawn, Macy, Luc, and Alexis.

September 10, 2023 - Winterizing North Brother 2023 - Ted D'eon.

A calm and foggy morning leaving Abbott's Harbour.

My crew consisting of Alexis Saulnier, Macy d'Eon, Luc Bilodeau, Daryl Gunter, and me.

I felt it was time to secure the island before a hurricane or winter storm arrives. I remember one winter when a storm washed away from the island, all (except for one) of our Roseate Tern nesting structures. We recovered most of them later along a one kilometre stretch of mainland shoreline. We didn't want a repeat of this! We planned to get all the ROST nesting shelters stored into the plywood blind as had been successfully done in 2022.

The ROST nesting area was overgrown with beach peas, bindweed (or is it "morning glory"), wild radish, and I'm sure, other weeds. It was a challenge just walking through and difficult enough to find all the nesting shelters; a good thing they were all numbered!

South end of the Roseate Tern nesting area, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

The Roseate Tern nesting area, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

A closer look at the Roseate Tern nesting area, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon A very thick growth of beach peas; difficult to walk through or find anything!

One unfortunate thing we found was the number of ROST nesting shelters still containing unhatched eggs; 15 contained one egg and 3 contained two eggs.

For the record, ROST shelters 8, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 31, 44, 47, 49, 54, 55, 57, and 58 each contained one unhatched ROST egg;
ROST shelters 26, 35, and 41 each contained two, for a total of 21 unhatched ROST eggs. Obviously, these nests had been abandonned.

Roseate Tern nest with unhatched egg, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Another Roseate Tern nest with unhatched egg, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon Note the bindweed (or morning glory?)

Roseate Tern nest with two unhatched eggs, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Macy, Daryl and I searched out the ROST nesting shelters and took them to the plywood blind where Luc and Alexis brushed them of debris and bugs (so many sow bugs!). Sow bugs are also known as pill bugs or wood lice.

Alexis at the plywood blind, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Macy and Daryl transporting the ROST shelters, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Brushing out the shelters before storage for winter, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon Luc, Alexis, Daryl, and Macy

Filling up the plywood blind, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Macy, Luc, and Alexis, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon

Luc and Alexis, North Brother, Sept 10, 2023 - photo by Ted D'Eon Job almost complete and well done

All 60 ROST nesting shelters easily fit into the blind.

Thank you Alexis Saulnier, Macy d'Eon, Luc Bilodeau, and Daryl Gunter for a job well done!

September 16, 2023 - Hurricane Lee

By 3pm, Saturday, September 16, 2023, Hurricane Lee had transformed into a "Post Tropical Cyclone". It missed The Brothers by passing about 50km to the west. Winds were quite strong but not as strong as most of us locals were expecting. There was a high tide during the night which gave me concern.

Hurricane Lee, 3pm, Sept 16, 2023 - from "Hurricane" app on my iPhone

Next morning, I scoped North Brother from the mainland and I was pleasantly pleased to see our plywood blind still in place and appeared undamaged!

Wonderful to see that!

The number of tern nests on The Brothers - A yearly comparison Please note: The Roseate Terns had not finished nesting at the time of these nest counts.

ROST nest numbers on The Brothers - 1991 to 2022

Ted C. D'Eon