The Black Tern breeds throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, this is mostly in southern Canada and the northern USA states. Except for the mountains it occur throughout Alberta, being most abundant in the Aspen parkland and southern boreal forest regions. The species suffered annual declines of 8% (between 1966-85), and as a result has been placed on the Yellow List because of concerns for its future.
The first spring migrants appear after the first week of May, and may be seen on sloughs, shallow lakes, reservoirs and slow stretches of rivers, equally at home in rural or urban environments. Locally, they occur at Bridalwood in south Calgary, and on surrounding sloughs or on the Bow River. They probably nest at Frank Lake. Occasionally a few visit the Glenmore Reservoir. Almost all have left by mid September.
While on the breeding ground, the main dietary items are insects: grasshoppers, beetles, flies, moths, dragonflies and other insects which are caught on the wing or plucked from vegetation or snatched from the water surface. They may also take a few fish, crayfish, frogs and tadpoles.
Nesting, individually or in small colonies, is almost always in cattails or other emergent vegetation in marshes, sloughs or lake edges. The actual nest is usually on a floating mat of vegetation or on marshy hummocks, occasionally on muskrat pushups. The usually three eggs are incubated by both adults for about 21 days. The young feed near the nest for about two week, hiding when disturbed. They fly when they are about three weeks of age.
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Where to find Black Terns in Alberta
May, June and September probably offer the best opportunities to spot Black Terns in Calgary famous Weaselhead area. They are considered uncommon during these months and either rare or absent in all others. Watch for these birds snatching insects on the wing over the delta at the west end of the Glenmore Reservoir. Brent Johner
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KEN OAKES
for serving as the society's PRESIDENT this year
BRENT JOHNER
for serving as the Society's 6th PRESIDENT (2000-2007)