A Least Tern (Sterna antillarum) was at Laguna Figueroa, near San Quintin, Baja California, last July. The breeding season was over and, like many birds at this time of the year, the Tern was getting ready to continue its migratory journey. First, it moved about 20 kilometers north to the Punta Mazo Nature Reserve, where it stayed for three days. There it undertook an intense flight of more than 200 kilometers and crossed the width of the Baja California peninsula in less than 3 hours. Finally, he arrived at the Gulf of Santa Clara, Sonora, a site that is home to thousands of seabirds and shorebirds.
This brief journey demonstrates the dynamism of migratory birds. Despite having the weight of a golf ball, this intrepid bird proved its ability to cross mountains and seas at record speed, evidencing its incredible adaptations for migration. The route followed was recorded by the Motus station system, a technological tool used for bird conservation purposes. The detailed journey of the Least Tern provides useful information, thanks to a small transmitter placed on the body of some specimens, which allows them to be recorded by the stations installed throughout the peninsula.
Pronatura Noroeste is leading the expansion of the Motus network of stations in northwestern Mexico, with more than 20 stations operating through automated telemetry. This has enabled us to monitor endangered species such as the Least Tern, listed under special protection by Official Norm Nom 059-SEMARNAT-2010, and other birds that nest in the same habitats, such as the Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus).
The story of this Least Tern is the story of thousands of birds. Every year, flocks of different species from North America travel thousands of miles into Mexico, Central and South America. Many of them use the route known as the Pacific Flyway. When they reach the coasts and wetlands of northwestern Mexico, some remain there temporarily, feeding and recovering energy, while others, such as the Least Tern, come to breed.
Setting up Motus stations and tagging birds for conservation purposes is a collaborative effort we are undertaking with organizations such as Pro Esteros A.C., who tagged this bird, and Terra Peninsular A.C., whose Motus station recorded this species in San Quintín.
In addition to bird monitoring, during this nesting season we developed environmental education and outreach activities for beach visitors in other parts of the peninsula, such as the port of Ensenada. We implemented a workshop entitled “Getting to know the Least Tern and Snowy Plover”, which operates on weekends from June to August, at Playa Hermosa, Pacifica, and Estero Punta Banda, as well as at environmental events. For this we have volunteers who are experts in species conservation, who are supported by infographics, educational materials and recreational activities to raise awareness among the population about the Least Tern and other birds.
Join the permanent monitoring effort with Motus stations. Let’s track the Least Tern as it moves to Central America and the Caribbean. Maybe later it will surprise us on the coast of California, back to the nest.
