NEW YORK 



A complete Long Island helicopter inventory of colonial waterbird colo- 

 nies was conducted during early June each year from 1974 to 1977 by P. A. and 

 F. G. Buckley (Buckley and Buckley in prep.)- In most cases, the species 

 totals given (Table 32) are based on their censuses except where more precise 

 nest counts were made. Because the Buckleys used different correction factors 

 than those derived in this study, the totals in Table 32 will differ somewhat 

 from their published figures. 



Seabirds 



As in northern areas, great black-backed and herring gull numbers have 

 exploded at the east end and along the south shore of Long Island since the 

 1960's and 1940's, respectively (Bull 1964, Kadlec and Drury 1968a, Drury 

 1973). There is some indication of a herring gull decline since 1975 (P. and 

 F. Buckley pers. comm. ), perhaps due to changing urban refuse policy. Curi- 

 ously, laughing gulls have not nested on Long Island since the late 1800's, 

 but nest in States both north and south. 



Two pairs of gull-billed terns nested for the first time in the State at 

 North Line Island in 1975 (Buckley et al. 1975) but nesting was not confirmed 

 subsequently. Common terns are ^ery abundant today, perhaps more than ever 

 before (Nisbet 1973, Drury 1973). However, before 1973, census coverage was 

 not comparable to that achieved by helicopter surveys of the entire coastline 

 (Buckley and Davis 1973, Buckley and Buckley in prep.). Many small colonies 

 probably were missed in earlier years. Colonies are becoming concentrated 

 into fewer, larger assemblages with some shift in habitats from beaches to bay 

 islands (Buckley and Buckley 1976). 



The roseate tern population has declined markedly; a greater than 50% 

 reduction occurred from 1975 to 1976 (Buckley and Buckley pers. comm.). On 

 Long Island, nearly all birds now nest in one colony at Great Gull Island. 

 Formerly large south shore colonies have decreased precipitously during the 

 past few years (P. and F. Buckley pers. comm.). 



Least terns may be more abundant in New York now than earlier in the 

 century but, as noted above, comparing recent aerial surveys with earlier 

 censuses may lead to spurious conclusions. The Eaton's Neck colony may be the 

 largest colony on the northeast coast, but nesting numbers fluctuate consider- 

 ably from year to year (LNL, KB, Fisk 1974, Duffy 1977). 



Black skimmers have increased steadily along the southern beaches of Long 

 Island since the 1930's (Bull 1964, 1974, Drury 1973, KB, L. Wilcox unpubl. 

 notes). As with terns, the traditional beach nesting sites have been usurped 

 by man, apparently resulting in a shift to dredge deposition islands in bays 

 (Buckley and Buckley 1976). 



In recent years, small numbers of double-crested cormorants have nested 

 on rocks near Fisher's Island in eastern Long Island (Drury 1973). In 1977, 

 65 pairs nested at Hungry Point. 



66 



