Current News

Least tern and snowy plover nesting updates for Bolsa Chica have been provided by the California Department of Fish and Game:

As of May 26, 2010, we have a total of 287 active CA least tern nests and 16 active western snowy plover nests at Bolsa Chica. The season total for snowy plover nests is 39.
 
At least 57 CA least tern nests and 1 plover nest are visible to the public from behind the fence at the end of the boardwalk (bridge that spans Bolsa Bay from South Lot). This is where our new Eye On Nest Sites (EONS) volunteers are assisting DFG monitor these birds on the north end of Nest Site 1 (NS1). EONS volunteers also serve to educate the public about our efforts to protect these species. Belding' Savannah sparrows are also nesting on NS1 as are gadwalls and American avocets.
 
Elegant tern (ELTE) activity on North Tern Island (visible from the boardwalk) has been unusual this year. ELTE began to arrive here in early April and by April 12, their numbers had swelled to ~6,000. By April 29, however, there were fewer than 100 ELTE here and they had also abandoned the Port of L.A. We don't know were they went but they began returning to Bolsa Chica by May 14th. Yesterday, we estimated ~6,000 ELTE on North Tern Island (NTI) along with 250-300 Black Skimmers. There is also a colony of ELTE nesting on the south end of NS1 where Caspian terns (CATE) had been nesting until their nests were destroyed by gulls this past weekend. In addition to depredating the CATE nests, the gulls also destroyed several least tern nests on NS1 and a colony of ELTE nests on North Tern Island.
 
Forster's terns are breeding in the marsh south of the boardwalk and we also have a few royal terns mixed in with the elegants.

Update provided by Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Manager Kelly O'Reilly (CDFG)