The Current Status and Distribution of the Least Tern Breeding in the Gulf of California, México. Ryan, T. P., Palacios, E., Amador, E., Lopez, M. C., Dolinski, L., Fonseca, J., Alvarez, A. H., García, G. N. L., Reyes, F. J. M., Parra, B. R. D. C. M., Espinoza, M. M., Serrato, L. O., Cruz, Á. Y. S., & Pintos, G. T. Waterbirds, 47(4):1–17, March, 2025. Publisher: The Waterbird Society
The Current Status and Distribution of the Least Tern Breeding in the Gulf of California, México [link]Paper  doi  abstract   bibtex   
The California Least Tern (Sternula antillarum browni) population is declining in California, U.S.A., but little is known about the Least Tern population breeding in the Gulf of California, México. Because of this decline in California, it is important to determine current distribution, population trends, and movements in the nearby Gulf of California. Emigration from coastal California to the Gulf of California is one possible reason for the decline. We analyzed Least Tern colony counts to provide an overview of its current breeding distribution, abundance trends, and connectivity in the Gulf of California. We documented 84 nesting sites, including 61 extant, 10 historic, and 13 sites of unknown status. We estimated the Gulf of California population to be 2,400–3,500 adults, breeding in the 61 extant colonies. Colonies here were small, averaging 49 adults/colony. Most colonies occurred in the Upper Gulf, Gulf Entrance, and on the southern end of the Baja California Peninsula. We estimated a significant negative trend for the population of the Gulf of California. We found no marked individuals in the Gulf of California nesting colonies banded in California or the Baja California peninsula, indicating no regular movement away from coastal California.
@article{ryan_current_2025,
	title = {The {Current} {Status} and {Distribution} of the {Least} {Tern} {Breeding} in the {Gulf} of {California}, {México}},
	volume = {47},
	issn = {1524-4695, 1938-5390},
	url = {https://bioone.org/journals/waterbirds/volume-47/issue-4/063.047.0405/The-Current-Status-and-Distribution-of-the-Least-Tern-Breeding/10.1675/063.047.0405.full},
	doi = {10.1675/063.047.0405},
	abstract = {The California Least Tern (Sternula antillarum browni) population is declining in California, U.S.A., but little is known about the Least Tern population breeding in the Gulf of California, México. Because of this decline in California, it is important to determine current distribution, population trends, and movements in the nearby Gulf of California. Emigration from coastal California to the Gulf of California is one possible reason for the decline. We analyzed Least Tern colony counts to provide an overview of its current breeding distribution, abundance trends, and connectivity in the Gulf of California. We documented 84 nesting sites, including 61 extant, 10 historic, and 13 sites of unknown status. We estimated the Gulf of California population to be 2,400–3,500 adults, breeding in the 61 extant colonies. Colonies here were small, averaging 49 adults/colony. Most colonies occurred in the Upper Gulf, Gulf Entrance, and on the southern end of the Baja California Peninsula. We estimated a significant negative trend for the population of the Gulf of California. We found no marked individuals in the Gulf of California nesting colonies banded in California or the Baja California peninsula, indicating no regular movement away from coastal California.},
	number = {4},
	urldate = {2025-07-31},
	journal = {Waterbirds},
	author = {Ryan, Thomas P. and Palacios, Eduardo and Amador, Edgar and Lopez, Medardo Cruz and Dolinski, Lauren and Fonseca, Juanita and Alvarez, Adriana Hernández and García, Germán N. Leyva and Reyes, Francisco Jaime Martínez and Parra, Brunilda Rebeca Del Carmen Menares and Espinoza, Manuel Muñoz and Serrato, Liliana Ortiz and Cruz, Ángeles Yazmín Sánchez and Pintos, Graciela Tiburcio},
	month = mar,
	year = {2025},
	note = {Publisher: The Waterbird Society},
	keywords = {Terrestrial Ecoregions (Wiken 2011)},
	pages = {1--17},
}

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