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RESULTS: We observed and monitored interior least tern nests at 4 of 15 sandpits and 4 of 12 <br />managed or constructed islands surveyed during 2008 (Table 3). We first observed an interior <br />least tern nest on 26 May, 2008 and the last observed nest was initiated on 25 July, 2008. At <br />least 1 egg from 49% (31/63) of interior least tern nests hatched which resulted in 61 chicks and <br />an overall nest - success rate of 0.97 chicks /nest during 2008 (Table 5). The first observation of <br />an interior least tern chick occurred on 18 June, 2008 and the last nest known to hatch did so on <br />15 August, 2008. Nest - success was lower at managed and constructed river islands than at <br />sandpits. We observed 40% (8/20) of interior least tern nests located on river islands hatched >_1 <br />chick while 53% (23/43) of interior least tern nests at sandpits hatched >_1 chick. We observed <br />16 chicks (0.80 chicks /nest) on managed or constructed islands and 45 chicks (1.05 chicks /nest) <br />at sandpits. Average daily survival rate interior least tern nests at sandpits was 0.99 (range = <br />0.90 -0.99) with no difference observed between sites during 2008; average incubation - period <br />survival rate = 0.73 (range = 0.11 -0.84; Appendix 1). We observed an average daily survival <br />rate of 0.95 (range = 0.67 -0.98) for nests located on managed or constructed river islands during <br />2008; average incubation - period survival rate = 0.35 (range = 0.00 -0.61; Appendix 2). The <br />survival rate of nests at the Dipple site was higher than other sites (Appendix 2). Daily and <br />incubation period survival rates for interior least tern nests was lower at river sites than sandpits <br />[X2(1, N =53) = 6.28; P <0.01; Appendix 3]. We observed the first interior least tern fledgling on <br />15 July, 2008 and the last known interior least tern chick to fledge did so on 9 August, 2008. <br />The fledging rate at all sites monitored during 2008 was 0.70 (44 fledglings /63 nests; Table 5). <br />We observed a nest -based fledging success rate of 0.45 (9/20) interior least tern fledglings /nest at <br />managed or constructed islands and 0.81 (35/43) interior least tern fledglings /nest at sandpits <br />during 2008. Daily survival rates for interior least tern broods at sandpits was 0.99 (range = <br />0.98 - 0.99); brooding - period survival rate = 0.80 (range = 0.73 -0.89; Appendix 4). We observed <br />a daily brood survival rate of 0.97 at our only river site containing a brood during 2008, Dipple; <br />brooding - period survival rate = 0.63 (Appendix 5). Interior least tern brood survival rates <br />between sandpit and river island sites during 2008 were similar [X2(1, N =28) = 0.84; P =0.36; <br />Appendix 6]. <br />Piping plover nests were observed at 4 of 15 sandpits and 3 of 12 managed or constructed islands <br />during 2008 (Table 3). The first observation of a piping plover nest was made on 5 May, 2008 <br />and the last observed nest was initiated on 27 June, 2008. At least 1 egg from 38% (8/21) of <br />piping plover nests hatched which resulted in 26 chicks and an overall nest - success rate of 1.24 <br />chicks /nest during 2008 (Table 5). We observed 3 chicks (0.60 chicks /nest) on managed or <br />constructed islands and 23 chicks (1.44 chicks /nest) at sandpits. The first observation of a piping <br />plover chick occurred on 29 May, 2008 and the last successful nest we observed hatched on 15 <br />July, 2008. Piping plover nest - success was lower at managed and constructed river islands than <br />at sandpits. Only 20% (115) of piping plover nests located on river islands hatched >_1 chick <br />while 44% (7/16) of piping plover nests at sandpits hatched >_1 chick (Table 3). Piping plover <br />daily nest survival rates at sandpits was 0.98 (range = 0.95 -0.99) during 2008; incubation - period <br />survival rates = 0.65 (range = 0.26 -0.80; Appendix 7). Daily survival rates for piping plover <br />nests at river islands during 2008 was 0.95 (range = 0.89 - 0.96); incubation period survival rate = <br />0.23 (range = 0.4 -0.34; Appendix 8). Piping plover daily and incubation period nest survival <br />rates were higher at sandpits than at river sites [X2(1, N =18) = 4.32; P =0.04; Appendix 9]. We <br />first observed a fledgling piping plover on 20 June, 2008 and the last known piping plover chick <br />to fledge was observed on 11 August, 2008. We observed a nest -based fledging rate of 0.48 (10 <br />PRRIP 2008 -2009 Tern /Plover Report Page 19 of 42 <br />