The following update is a summary for the 2007 nesting season at Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The data within this summary is current as of 11 September 2007.  The information is subject to change as the data is reviewed and finalized. 

·        A total of 21 pairs of federally threatened piping plovers nested on the refuge:  1 pair on North Monomoy and 20 pairs on South Monomoy Island.  Refuge-wide, this is 4 fewer pairs than in 2006. Seventeen chicks fledged and overall reproductive success was fair - 0.81 chicks fledged per pair.

·        Monomoy NWR hosts the largest common tern colony in Massachusetts, approximately 53% of the population in the state.  A total of 7,948 common terns nested on the north tip of South Monomoy Island in 2007.  This is a decrease from 9,310 pairs in 2006.  Heavy predation from gulls, coyotes, and black-crowned night-heron throughout the season resulted in poor reproductive success (0.70 chicks fledged per nest) in 2007.  Approximately 839 pairs (711 pairs in 2006) of common terns nested on Minimoy Island this season with fair productivity; common terns on Minimoy Island experienced frequent overwash and some predation by gulls and black-crowned night-heron.  Eight pairs of common terns also attempted to nest on North Monomoy Island with poor productivity due to overwash of the nesting area and gull predation.

·        Forty-five pairs of federally endangered roseate terns nested on the refuge in 2007.  Two pairs nested on South Monomoy Island.  Each pair produced one chick.  Forty-three pairs of roseate terns nested on Minimoy Island.  Thirty-three chicks fledged successfully with good productivity of 1.03 chicks per nest.  Twenty-nine pairs of roseate terns nested on the refuge in 2006.

·        Laughing gull numbers on South Monomoy Island were steady at 1,498 pairs in 2007 (1,492 in 2006).  Overall, productivity was estimated to be poor. Nest destruction efforts were implemented again this season to reduce the increasing laughing gull population that is encroaching on the common and roseate tern colony. 

·        A total of 54 pairs of Least Terns nested on the refuge. Forty-seven nests were counted on South Monomoy Island in mid June and early July. Productivity was low primarily due to predation by coyotes and gulls.  Seven Least Tern nests were also found on Minimoy Island in early July, but the nests were lost to overwash. 

·        A total of 139 pairs of black-crowned night-heron nested on the refuge in 2007, down from 158 nests in 2006. Ninety-four pairs of black-crowned night-heron nested on South Monomoy Island and forty-five pairs nested on North Monomoy Island.  In addition, 12 pairs of snowy egrets and 1 pair of great egrets also nested on the refuge this season.