Results from Monomoy Animal Counts Show Broad Increases in Threatened Species

A least tern. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

CHATHAM – The numbers are in, and multiple species of birds and other animals have shown increased numbers at Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge following the 2016 Field Season Count Summary.

A total of 52 pairs of federally threatened piping plovers nested on the Refuge in 2016. The population was an increase from 45 pairs in 2015, and officials owe that change to an adjustment made to administrative boundaries in 2015.

As for Common Terns, 10,505 of them nested on the north tip of South Monomoy Island, a 14 percent increase from 2015.

Fourteen pairs of federally endangered roseate terns nested on the Refuge this year, up from 11 in 2015.

In addition to birds, 529 horshoe crabs were tagged in the area in June.