METHODS USED TO IMPROVE LEAST TERN AND SNOWY PLOVER NESTING SUCCESS ON ALKALINE FLATS

We evaluated two management methods to increase nesting success of end angered interior Least Terns (Sterna antillarum) and Snowy Plovers (Ch aradrius alexandrinus) at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, Oklaho ma. Nest ridges were constructed from existing substrate and designed to provide elevated habitat safe from sheet flooding. Solar-powered el ectric fences were built to reduce predation by mammals. Least Tern an d Snowy Plover nests on and off ridges were located inside and outside fenced areas and revisited every 3-4 d to quantify nest success using the Mayfield Method and determine causes of nest failure. Nest ridges did not reduce nest losses to flooding and further design improvement s are necessary. Electric fences did not significantly reduce annual e gg predation except for Least Terns during one year of the study. Pool ed data for 1991-1994, however, indicated significantly higher Least T ern and slightly higher Snowy Plover nest success inside than outside of electric fences.