Protected Tern Colony Killed, Possibly By A Fox, Hoboken Bird-Lovers Say

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken bird-lovers have spent the last few years protecting a tern colony that returns annually to a pier on the north waterfront.

Last year, the group Our Tern even hosted art exhibits and activities around the terns.

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But over the weekend, at least five were discovered killed, group members told Patch.

"Yesterday, we discovered that the colony had suffered a major setback," posted group member Juan Melli on social media on Saturday. "All of the chicks that had hatched so far, about five or six, were found dead. Most of the adult terns had dispersed from the pier. It appears to have been a natural predator.

"Based on scat found at the site and recent fox sightings nearby, a fox may have been involved, though we can’t say with certainty. It is heartbreaking. But it is also part of the reality of trying to help wildlife recover in a dense urban environment."

They noted, "The terns came here because the Hudson River is healthier and full of food. A fox can survive here for the same reason. That is what a recovering ecosystem looks like: beautiful, complicated, and sometimes brutal."

A Hopeful Sign

Hoboken bird enthusiast Jeff Train, who has led several walks to the site, told Patch the weekend ended on a positive note.

The adult terns were seen returning to the pier after fleeing.

"To the excitement of birds returning, demonstrating behaviors of attempting to salvage their eggs and engage in courtship behavior, and the elation of realizing that all of the birds didn’t just altogether leave," he said, " it’s been a reassuring reminder of nature’s resiliency."

He said, "We are learning so much, and it will make the creation of a permanent nesting site all the more precious and meaningful."

Learn more about the effort here and here.