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Artificial brood parasite technique for rearing abandoned eggs of the endangered Little Tern Sternula albifrons.
Citation
Hayakawa, M. 2025. Artificial brood parasite technique for rearing abandoned eggs of the endangered Little Tern Sternula albifrons..
Marine Ornithology 53: 35
- 39
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.53.1.1613
Received 16 February 2024, accepted 15 July 2024
Date Published: 2025/04/15
Date Online: 2025/01/12
Key words: abandoned eggs, colonial bird, endangered species, ground nesting, Sternula albifrons
Abstract
The Little Tern Sternula albifrons is a ground-nesting species classified as Endangered on the Japan Ministry of the Environment's Red Data List. It may abandon its eggs owing to disturbances, a factor having a negative impact on its population trends. Successful artificial nurturing of these eggs could aid in the recovery of the species. To address this issue, I developed a ‘brood parasite' technique. The process involves taking abandoned eggs from a nest, incubating them in a facility until one day before hatching, and then covertly placing the protected eggs into other nests within the colony. By these means, foster parents and chicks can establish their post-fledging relationship. Herein, I provide an overview of this technique.
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