Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) use of a staging site in the Chesapeake Bay
In 2021, we initiated fieldwork to assess the relative importance of a staging area for Sterna hirundo (Common Tern) at a pier at the confluence of the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay, MD. During the post-breeding periods of 2021 through 2023, we resighted 378 banded Common Terns at this staging area, with individuals originating from 6 breeding colonies. Most banded individuals were from Poplar Island, a major nesting site 50 km north of the pier, with up to 37% of that island's annual hatch-year population observed at this staging area. Additionally, biologists have previously observed staging terns at this site, suggesting these observations do not reflect a change in the species' behavior within the region. Cumulatively, our data suggest that this habitat acts as an important staging area for the Chesapeake Bay's Common Tern population, particularly for those nesting on Poplar Island.