RALEIGH, N.C. (May 31, 2005) — North Carolina’s beaches have long been a battleground between natural and commercial interests. But in the conflict between coastal birds and humans, sometimes both sides can win, according to Wildlife in North Carolina magazine.

Waterbirds — gulls, terns, herons, pelicans, egrets and other bird families — play a crucial role in the state’s coastal ecosystems. But they require considerable real estate to thrive. Many species build nests and raise their young in large colonies that often comprise thousands of nesting pairs.

As beachfront development takes these prime nesting grounds out of circulation, colonial waterbird populations dwindle. Bird population surveys conducted by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission indicate that many species — black skimmers, gull-billed terns and common terns — have declined more than 50 percent since the mid-1970s.

On the other hand, brown pelicans are perhaps North Carolina’s greatest ornithological success story. Ravaged by the pesticide DDT, brown pelicans were once on the federal endangered species list. But since 1977, when only 101 breeding pairs were found in North Carolina, their numbers have soared to more than 5,000 breeding pairs on the state’s coast.

Other species have managed to adapt somewhat to the loss of habitat. Least terns, for example, have learned to nest on the gravel-topped roofs of supermarkets and other commercial buildings. Rooftop-nesting least terns were first observed in 1989; they now make up about 30 percent of the species in North Carolina.

Yet bird observers worry about the fallout from changing behaviors. For example, several species of gulls — laughing, herring and black-billed — have become expert scavengers of human garbage, expanding in both range and numbers alongside human populations. These gulls also prey on the eggs and chicks of other colonial nesters.

One tool in balancing coastal birds’ needs with human plans is the physical counting of birds by species, conducted every few years since 1976. “Having all of that historical data gives us a good idea of where these colonies are located and their population trends,” said Susan Cameron, the Wildlife Commission’s waterbird biologist.

Population numbers have proven valuable in managing wildlife species. For example, construction projects frequently must pass an environmental review that takes wildlife population surveys into account.

Another way the Wildlife Commission protects coastal waterbirds is by posting their fragile habitats. From barrier island dunes to the islets formed of dredged inlet sand, signs warn visitors away from nesting grounds between April and October, the sensitive nesting and breeding seasons.

Coastal residents and visitors can also help ensure that colonial waterbirds remain a part of North Carolina’s natural heritage:

Wildlife in North Carolina is a monthly educational publication of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. For subscription and other information, call toll-free (866) 945-3746, or visit the N.C. Wild Store.

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