The Audubon Vermont Lake Champlain Colonial
Waterbird Database Project is designed to provide wildlife
managers, academic institutions, conservation organizations
and the general public with up to date information on colonial
nesting waterbird species on Lake Champlain. The project was
funded by the Lake
Champlain Basin Program and the Vermont
Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Colonial waterbirds include gulls, terns, cormorants, herons
and egrets. These birds usually nest in large groups in isolated
locations such as islands or large wetlands. Colonial waterbird
nesting locations occur in both Vermont and New York and range
in size from Popasquash Island, at less than an acre to Valcour
Island at more than a thousand acres.
On Lake Champlain the status of colonial nesting species
range from state endangered (Common Tern in Vermont) to problematic
(Double-crested Cormorants). In either case, their populations
are monitored and managed by a number of different organizations.
The goal of the Lake Champlain Colonial Waterbird Database
Project is to collect and organize this data so it is easily
accessible.
On the following pages you will find descriptions of the
different colonial nesting species, descriptions of the different
nesting locations, population data and sources for the data.
The data shown represents information collected from sources
deemed reliable based on survey methods and sampling techniques.
This information is updated annually to include the latest
data and management activities.
Colonial Waterbird Nesting Locations
Lake Champlain Colonial Waterbirds
Sources
and Acknowledgements |
