South Carolina Project
Seabird Productivity in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
January 2009 - December 2010
Personnel
Participating Agencies
- Challenge Cost Share, USFWS

CRNWR is one of the most important areas for beach-nesting birds in SC. Marsh Island and White Banks support a diverse array of seabird species and are 2 of only 5 large seabird sanctuaries in the State. Additionally, CRNWR has tern and skimmer nesting on the barrier island beaches of Lighthouse Island, Cape Island and Raccoon Key. During the past 5 years, these barrier islands are often the only barrier islands in SC that support seabird nesting. In 2007, these beaches supported 56% of SC’s black skimmers. Although least terns nest on roof tops and artificial sites, 75% of the least terns that nested on beaches in SC, nested in CRNWR. Although nest counts document the importance of CRNWR for seabird nesting, observations by SCDNR and CRNWR staff in the past 3 years suggest that reproductive success on the barrier islands in CRNWR is very low. Seabirds often abandon nest sites shortly after egg laying and fledglings are not observed. The goal of this project is to monitor seabird nesting on Cape Island, Lighthouse Island and Raccoon Key to document reproductive success and help identify causes of colony abandonment and nest loss.
Research Publications | Publication Date |
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Brooks, G.L., F.J. Sanders, P.D. Gerard, P.G.R. Jodice. 2013. Predation and flooding reduce nesting success of Least Terns at natural nest sites in South Carolina. Waterbirds 36:1-10. | Download | January 2013 |
Brooks, G.L.*, F.J. Sanders, P.D. Gerard, and P.G.R. Jodice. Daily survival rates for nests of Black Skimmers from a core breeding area of the Southeastern USA. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 126:443-450. | Abstract | Download | July 2014 |
Presentations | Presentation Date |
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Brooks, G.*, F. Sanders, P.G.R. Jodice. 2009. Preliminary investigation of factors influencing hatch success of beach-nesting birds within Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina. Waterbird Society Annual Meeting, Atlantic City, New Jersey [Poster] | November 2009 |
Eggert, L.M.F..*, P.G.R. Jodice, F. Sanders, G. Brooks. 2010. Conservation challenges and successes for seabirds in South Carolina, USA: Importance of longterm monitoring and research partnerships. First World Seabird Conference, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. | September 2010 |
Brooks, G.*, P.G.R. Jodice, F. Sanders. 2011. Nest success of beach-nesting birds in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina, USA. Waterbird Society Annual Meeting, Grand Island, Nebraska | March 2011 |
Theses and Dissertations | Publication Date |
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Brooks, G. 2011. Reproductive Success of Black Skimmers and Least Terns. MS Thesis, Clemson University. | June 2011 |