EFFICACY OF USING RADIO TRANSMITTERS TO MONITOR LEAST TERN CHICKS

Little is known about Least Tern (Sterna antillarum) chicks from the time they leave the nest until fledging because they are highly mobile and cryptically colored. We evaluated the efficacy of using radiotelemetry to monitor Interior Least Tern (S. a. athalassos) chicks at Salt Plains National Wild...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Wilson journal of ornithology 2005-03, Vol.117 (1), p.85
Main Authors: Whittier, Joanna B, Leslie, David M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animal reproduction
Birds
Radio
Transmitters
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Summary:Little is known about Least Tern (Sterna antillarum) chicks from the time they leave the nest until fledging because they are highly mobile and cryptically colored. We evaluated the efficacy of using radiotelemetry to monitor Interior Least Tern (S. a. athalassos) chicks at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma. In 1999, we attached radio transmitters to 26 Least Tern chicks and tracked them for 2-17 days. No adults abandoned their chicks after transmitters were attached. Transmitters did not appear to alter growth rates of transmittered chicks (P = 0.36) or prevent feather growth, although dermal irritation was observed on one chick. However, without frequent reattachment, transmitters generally did not remain on chicks
ISSN:1559-4491
1938-5447