Least Terns at Malibu Lagoon

Here’s a message from Stacey Vigallon at the LAAS Least Tern HQ:

Terrifically cute Least Tern chick

 We had some exciting weeks at Malibu Lagoon with Least Terns attempting to nest in the Snowy Plover enclosure in late May and early June. This was the first known nesting at the lagoon since 1940! Though it looks like the Least Terns have moved on from Malibu, we’d still love your help with keeping eyes on the beach periodically at this site. There are still about two months in the nesting season, so anything could happen!

In the past, Least Terns who fledged young at other colonies have brought their families to Malibu Lagoon just before heading back to Mexico and South America. If you’ll be birding Malibu Lagoon (or know people who will be birding this site) in the coming summer months, please let us know if you see any Least Terns. We’re coordinating with management agencies to monitor this area, and any information you could provide this summer would be extremely helpful.

Please contact the Los Angeles Audubon Volunteer Coordinator at 323 481 4037 or tern@laaudubon.org. Thank you!

Broken egg found within enclosure may – or may not – have been a Least Tern egg (A Albaisa 6/14/13)