Long Term Decline of a Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) Population Nesting in Salt Marshes in Venice Lagoon, Italy

Each year between 1989 and 2008, I monitored Common Tern colonies in the lagoon of Venice (Italy). This population nests only on salt marsh islets, which are subjected to flooding during high tides. The number of breeding pairs decreased significantly from 832 to 109, with an average rate of decrease of -10.1%. Overall, 188 colonies were found, ranging from two to 583 pairs; median colony size was 57 pairs, and it decreased significantly. The mean turnover rate was high at 41.5%, and it ranged each year between 7.7% and 60%. The observed trends could be attributed to the increase in mean sea level that occurred over the last 20 years (0.5 cm/yr). In the May-June period, the number of days with high tides leading to a complete flooding of the breeding site increased. Between 1989 and 1998 there was on average 4.4 days with floodings. This increased to 8.4 days between 1999 and 2008. Therefore, sea level rise could be a major contributor to declining Common Tern populations in the lagoon of Venice.