Black skiinmers maintain a fairly large, stable breeding population in the 

 State with major colonies on the protected beaches at Brigantine National 

 Wildlife Refuge (Little Beach and Holgate). However, only three colonies make 

 up 90% of the total breeding population. There is a large traditional colony 

 at Avalon (AFN, NJA) located on a dredge deposition area. An early report 

 (AFN) of 4,000 adults at Tuckerton in 1953 is probably erroneous since 

 McMullen (unpubl. field notes) estimated only 200. Endangered Species status 

 has been recommended to the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game, and Shell- 

 fisheries for this species (J. Galli pers. comm.). Two of the three largest 

 colonies contain more than 50% of the population and are vulnerable to human 

 disturbance (Kane and Farrar 1977). 



Wading Birds 



Glossy ibises first nested in the State in 1955 (McMullen unpubl. notes, 

 UOC, Buckley 1977) and by 1976 v/as one of the more abundant wading birds (Kane 

 and Farrar 1976). In 1977 it was equal in abundance to the snowy egret (Kane 

 and Farrar 1977). It often nests on the ground in dense reed (Phragmites 

 communis ) on dredge deposition sites, frequently with black-crowned night 

 herons. Its early arrival on the nesting ground may confer some advantage 

 over native herons in New Jersey (Buckley 1977). 



Coastal colonies of great blue herons have declined drastically since the 

 early 1900's (Miller 1943, Buckley 1977). There have been no recent reports 

 concerning the formerly large rookeries at several Delaware Bay locations. In 

 1977, only the Sandy Hook colony definitely had nesting birds. 



After years of absence, great egrets nested again in 1928 and steadily 

 increased through the 1950' s (Stone 1937, Seibert 1951, Allen 1957, McMullen 

 unpubl. notes). They may have peaked in recent years. Snowy egrets first 

 nested in southern New Jersey in 1939 (McDonald et al. 1940) and have 

 increased ever since, ranking now as one of the most abundant wading birds in 

 the State (Kane and Farrar 1977). Cattle egrets also are increasing, possibly 

 at the expense of other small herons such as the Louisiana and little blue 

 (Burger 1978). From one pair in 1958 (Fables 1959), cattle egrets increased 

 to 565 pairs at seven colonies in 1977 (Kane and Farrar 1977). The two recent 

 invaders from the south, cattle egret and glossy ibis, now rank among the four 

 most abundant wading bird species in New Jersey, 



Little blue herons first nested in 1935 and began increasing in Cape May 

 County in the 1940's (McMullen unpubl. notes, NJA). Bull (1964), Fables 

 (1955), and Cruickshank (1942) considered the species an abundant nester. 

 Clapp (1975) suggested that numbers might have decreased from peak counts in 

 the 1950-60 period, but the 1977 totals equal the former peak. Like other 

 dark-bodied cryptic herons, it probably has been underestimated in past cen- 

 suses. Louisiana herons increased rapidly in the decade following their 

 initial nesting in 1948 (Post 1961, UOC), but have remained at about 200 pairs 

 since the late 1950's (H. Mills unpubl. notes, NJA). The 1975 estimate of 280 

 pairs is questionable due to the late (July) census date at which time counts 

 may have included individuals dispersed from southern locations. Green herons 

 have ne\/er nested in large numbers at any coastal location (Stone 1937, Fables 

 1955) except possibly during the 1890's (Burns 1929). As many as 36 pairs 

 have been reported at Ocean City (Seibert 1951) and 58 by Custer and Osborn 

 (1976) in 1975. In 1977 only 14 pairs were reported at four mixed colonies. 



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