Sharing Venice Beach with Least Terns

People, crows and Least Terns are learning to be good neighbors at the Least Tern nesting enclosure on Venice Beach, thanks to research led by the LMU Center for Urban Resilience (CURes), and the efforts of local citizen scientists.   We all use the beach in close proximity to each other because the enclosure is the only stretch of sand that is not groomed between Santa Monica and San Pedro.

The North American Waterbird Conservation Plan lists Least Terns as a Species of High Concern, so helping to preserve their nesting habitat is an important element in reversing their steep decline.  CURes is also studying how to mitigate crow predation of eggs and chicks to boost survival rates at the enclosure.