THE LAST WORD

By Justin Braby
The Damara Tern Sterna balaenarum is arguably the smallest and most unique of the terns. It migrates to the coastlines of Namibia, Angola and South Africa during southern hemisphere summer to breed. It spends the winter in West African countries like Ghana and Nigeria. As only 2% of the world population of Damara Terns breed outside of Namibia, it is considered to be an endemic to our country. Damara Terns breed in loose, isolated colonies on the desert mainland. They nest on saltpans or gravel plains between dunes. The world population of Damara Terns makes up only 7000 individuals. This small population has captured the attention of conservation authorities. It is currently Near Threatened on the Red Data List of Species created by the IUCN. As the vast majority of Damara Terns breed in Namibia, the country has become almost solely responsible for the survival of the species. It is Specially Protected under the draft Parks and Wildlife Management Bill of 2002. It has also become a flagship species along the Namibian coast due to its unique biology and behaviour. A flagship species is usually a popular, charismatic species that serves as a symbol and rallying point to stimulate conservation awareness and action. The densest breeding population of Damara Terns is found along the central coast of Namibia, in the gravel plains amongst the dunes between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. Due to increased human disturbance here, the breeding success has become dangerously low. Very little was previously known about breeding populations along the southern coast of Namibia, known as the Sperrgebiet. The last two breeding seasons I have spent monitoring the breeding colonies in the Sperrgebiet as part of my Doctorate in Zoology. This project was initiated to assess the possible impact mining disturbance may have on the breeding productivity and population dynamics of the Damara Tern. The project was broadened because of the collection of new and interesting data on Damara Tern breeding and behaviour. In addition, colonies that were previously estimated as harboring only small numbers of breeding terns in fact harbored much greater numbers. The breeding colony at Hottentot’s Bay was estimated at 20 nests; this season my assistant and I found a minimum of 186 nests on the pan. Elizabeth Bay, the colony that has required the most focus due to mining, has yielded interesting results too. The number of nests has decreased here from 13 nests last season to only 4 nests this season. Mining impacts here may be due to sediment release into the bay rendering it difficult for adults to find and catch fish and in turn being able to feed their chicks. The data collection phase of this project has come to an end and now this data needs to be analyzed to assess the possibility of impacts. The essence of this project reflects the notion that the Damara Tern will become a flagship species of the Sperrgebiet National Park, much like the Brown Hyena and the African Penguin.