THE ROSEATE TERN Sterna dougallii gracilis BREEDING ON THE NORTHERN GREAT BARRIER REEF QUEENSLAND
| Posted: |
15/08/2021 |
| Author(s): |
Geoffrey C. Smith |
In the tropical environment on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Roseate Terns
Stema
dougallii laid eggs from November to January. The average clutch size was 1.6. This did not vary
significantly in the three breeding seasons from 1983 to 1986. Adults fed their young predominantly
silver, schooling bait-fish from 25 mm to 125 mm in length. Feeding rates increased in two breeding
seasons to compensate for smaller prey sizes available in these seasons. Pre-fledging survival rates
of chicks were extremely low in breeding seasons when feeding rates were high. Survival of chicks
was generally low.
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