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especially if the unknown taxa occurred in another sample. When invertebrates could not be
<br />counted and identified on the collection day, we froze sticky sticks for later identification.
<br />NEST AND PRODUCTIVITY RESEARCH
<br />We surveyed of all sites 2 -3 times /week to assess the distribution and breeding activities of adult
<br />interior least terns and piping plovers primarily in support of objective 4. We recorded nest -
<br />specific information including habitat class (sandpit, sandbar island, sandbar island complex,
<br />point beach, or beach line), GPS location, management activities that occurred at the site,
<br />species, number of eggs, and we estimated nest initiation, hatch date, and incubation stage
<br />(determined by floating eggs). We also recorded habitat data including vegetative structure
<br />within 1 -m2 of the nest (% cover, vegetative height, and vegetative composition), nest -site and
<br />nest -cup substrate (silt, sand, small pebble, gravel, cobble, and boulder), and nest site furniture
<br />present near the site (driftwood, shrubs, bones, boulders, etc.). We collected habitat data as soon
<br />as possible after the nest was found, if not on the initial visit. During initial and subsequent nest
<br />observations, we recorded date and time of visit, status and fate of nest (normal, destroyed, eggs
<br />missing, hatched etc.), number of whole and pipped eggs, risk of inundation, nest manipulation
<br />(elevated nest), number of chicks in bowl, adult status (present or absent), and weather
<br />conditions. Once nests hatched, we documented the number of hatched and un- hatched eggs and
<br />the observed clutch size and attempted to band all chicks present.
<br />We recorded a GPS location every time chicks were observed, regardless of whether chicks were
<br />captured or not. We recorded the site, species, date, time, weather conditions (cloud cover,
<br />temperature, wind, and precipitation), and bird behavior for each chick encounter. Anytime a
<br />chick was captured and banded and when bands were manipulated, we weighed the chick prior to
<br />band application or manipulation. If a chick of a piping plover brood was recaptured, the entire
<br />known brood was recaptured and weighed. We recorded the site, species, date, time, weather
<br />conditions (cloud cover, temperature, wind, and precipitation), bird behavior, nest identification
<br />number, adult presence, capture, release, and reunite times, band related injuries, chick age,
<br />culmen and wing -chord lengths, and collected a feather sample during each banding event.
<br />PRRIP 2008 -2009 Tern/Plover Report Page 33 of 42
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