The following update is a summary for the 2008 nesting season at Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The data within this summary is current as of 18 September 2008.  The information is subject to change as the data is reviewed and finalized. 

·        A total of 27 pairs of federally threatened piping plovers nested on the refuge:  one pair on North Monomoy and 26 pairs on South Monomoy Island.  Refuge-wide, this is six more pairs than in 2007.  Twenty-seven chicks fledged and overall reproductive success was fair – 1.00 chick fledged per pair.

·        Monomoy NWR hosts the largest common tern colony in Massachusetts, approximately 43% of the population in the state.  A total of 6,834 common terns nested on the north tip of South Monomoy Island in 2008.  This is a decrease from 7,948 pairs in 2007. Reproductive success was good at 1.12 chicks fledged per nest.  Approximately 1,258 pairs (839 pairs in 2007) 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.  Seventy pairs of common terns also nested on North Monomoy Island with poor productivity due to overwash of the nesting area.

·        Thirty-seven pairs of federally endangered roseate terns nested on the refuge in 2008.  All roseate tern nesting was on Minimoy Island.  Thirty chicks fledged successfully with good productivity of 1.00 chick per nest, based on 30 A-nests only.  Fifty-six pairs of roseate terns nested on the refuge in 2007.

·        In 2008, 1,317 pairs of laughing gulls nested on South Monomoy Island, down from 1,498 in 2007.  Overall, productivity was estimated to be poor to fair. 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 149 pairs of Least Terns nested on the refuge:  144 pairs nested on South Monomoy and 5 pairs nested on Minimoy.  Overall, productivity was poor on both islands due to predation and overwash.   

·        A total of 171 pairs of black-crowned night-heron nested on the refuge in 2008, up from 139 nests in 2007. All of the pairs of black-crowned night-heron nested on North Monomoy Island.  Although no nests were found on South Monomoy during the census in May, adults were seen in the traditional nesting area in June.  Twelve pairs of snowy egrets and two pairs of great egrets also nested on North Monomoy Island this season.