Breeding tern colonies in Valinokkam Lagoon, Tamil Nadu, India: additional records from the Gulf of Mannar region

Authors

  • H. Maitreyi Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu 608502, India.
  • H. Byju Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu 608502, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6902-8023
  • N. Raveendran Iragukal Amritha Nature Trust, 61, Ramachandra Thadaga Street, Thirumangalam, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625706, India.
  • S. Ravichandran Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu 608502, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10690.18.8.29552-29554

Keywords:

breeding birds, lagoon, seabirds, terns

Abstract

Breeding colonies of sympatric Little Tern Sternula albifrons (30 nests) and Saunders’s Tern Sternula saundersi (8 nests) were documented for the first time in a saltpan associated with Valinokkam Lagoon during April–May 2026.    

References

Abdulali, H. (1942). The distribution of the Rosy Tern. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 43: 104.

AlRashidi, M. (2025). Breeding ecology and incubation behaviours of Little Tern Sternula albifrons in the Sabkhat Al-Fasl Lagoons, Saudi Arabia. Marine Ornithology 53(2): 235–241. https://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.53.2.1642 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.53.2.1642

AviList Core Team (2025). AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025. https://doi.org/10.2173/avilist.v2025. Accessed on 7.vii.2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2173/avilist.v2025

Balachandran, S. et al. (2005). Habitat evaluation of Chilika Lake with special reference to birds as bioindicators. Final Report (2001–2005), Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai. 141 pp.

Byju, H. et al. (2023). Importance of conserving a critical wintering ground for shorebirds in the Valinokkam Lagoon—a first study of the avifaunal distribution of the southeastern coast of India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 15(8): 23696–23709. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8494.15.8.23696-23709 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8494.15.8.23696-23709

Byju, H. et al. (2025a). Breeding tern colonies on the sandbars of Adam’s Bridge, India: new records and significance. Journal of Threatened Taxa 17(3): 26680–26689. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9591.17.3.26680-26689 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9591.17.3.26680-26689

Byju, H. et al. (2025b). Temporal dynamics of shorebird assemblages in Valinokkam Lagoon, southeast India: a new wintering site along the Central Asian Flyway. Ornis Hungarica 33(2): 22–42. http://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2025-0018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2025-0018

Cheah, J.W.K. & A. Ng (2008). Breeding ecology of the little tern, Sterna albifrons Pallas, 1764 in singapore. Nature in Singapore 1: 69–73.

Holloway, M. (1993). The variable breeding success of the Little Tern Sterna albifrons in south east India and protective measures needed for its conservation. Biological Conservation 65: 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(93)90189-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(93)90189-8

Li, Z.W.D. et al. (2009). Status of Waterbirds in Asia—Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 1987–2007. Wetlands International, Kuala Lumpur, 35 pp.

Panagoda, B.G. et al. (2020). Sympatric breeding of two endangered Sternula terns, Saunders’s S. saundersi and Little S. albifrons Terns, in the Rama’s Bridge of Sri Lanka. BirdingAsia 34: 76–83.

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Published

26-08-2026

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 8 (2026)

Section

Notes

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Copyright (c) 2026 H. Maitreyi, H. Byju, N. Raveendran, S. Ravichandran

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