English

Abstract

Human disturbed landscapes such as those in early stages of mine reclamation provide habitat for disturbance-oriented species. Disturbance- oriented birds that are uncommon or absent from the surrounding region may be concentrated at large-scale human disturbed sites such as surface mines. Implications for conservation and management of such species are important considerations, given the possibility one or more of those species may be federally protected. Recent expansion of the breeding range of Interior Least Terns (Sterna antillarum athalassos), a federally endangered species, in Texas has many implications for management on private lands. Interior Least Terns first nested on reclaimed mine spoil at Big Brown Mine in East-Central Texas in 1997. Management objectives for reclamation planning were subsequently established to provide suitable nesting and foraging habitat for terns while seeking to reduce the risk of interference with mining activities at Big Brown Mine. Since 1997, an average of 29 nests per year have occurred on artificial sites created for tern nesting, with average annual nest success 49%, hatching success 47%, and fledging success 46%. Average annual reproductive success (fledglings per female) is 0.40. We discuss colonization of reclaimed mine land by disturbance- oriented avian species and present research on the nesting and foraging ecology of Interior Least Terns in Texas as a case study. Implications for conservation and management of disturbance-oriented birds in reclamation are discussed.