Female roseate tern fledges a chick following the death of her mate during the incubation period

Colonial Waterbirds
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Abstract

Despite the death of her mate during the incubation period and a shortage (or lack of availability) of food in nearby waters, a female Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) nesting at the Falkner Island Unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge in Connecticut was able to raise a chick to fledging in 1995 without human assistance. The growth and development of this chick was slower than that of other single chicks in the colony; it never weighed more than 90 g and did not fledge until 32 days of age. Despite this exceptional female's ability to rear a chick on her own, this observation supports the idea that bi-parental care is important in Roseate Terns, particularly during years of food shortage.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Female roseate tern fledges a chick following the death of her mate during the incubation period
Series title Colonial Waterbirds
DOI 10.2307/1521609
Volume 20
Issue 3
Year Published 1997
Language English
Publisher Waterbird Society
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 4 p.
First page 552
Last page 555
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