Effects of human disturbance on reproductive success in the black skimmer.

Rynchops niger, nesting in six subcolonies within a tern colony were subjected to either daily or weekly nest checks. Many prelaying adults left subcolonies that were disturbed daily and settled in relatively undisturbed subcolonies; some pairs in these areas deserted nests early in incubation. Nest density, late nesting, hatching success and fledging success were inversely correlated with disturbance. In consequence of disturbance, a few chicks ate younger conspecifics. Low fences placed around groups of nests depressed fledging in areas disturbed weekly, but enhanced it in subcolonies disturbed daily.-from Authors