Recoveries of Ringed Terns in the Northern Persian Gulf, Iran

Individuals of many seabird species are highly philopatric, returning to breed where they hatched, while others move into colonies somewhere else. To date, there have been no published data reviewing the recoveries of breeding waterbirds ringed in the northern Persian Gulf islands. Tern chicks were ringed on the Mond Islands in the Persian Gulf between 2003 and 2010. The recording of ringed birds was carried out during the 2010 breeding season using a camera at the ringing site. Reports of ringed birds found away from the place of ringing up to the end of 2011 were also obtained. At least 57 ringed Lesser Crested Terns Sterna bengalensis and seven ringed Swift Terns Sterna bergii were observed nesting on the Mond Islands in June and July 2010. Moreover, one ringed Swift Tern and three ringed Lesser Crested Terns were found in western and southern India, a sea journey of some 2,400–3,500 km. Recovery data confirm site fidelity in Lesser Crested Terns and Swift Terns on the Mond Islands and also reveal their affinity with the oriental region.