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Mississippi River
Least Tern Breeding Colony - Randolph Bar

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MAVTipton Co.Least Tern Surveys in the Mississippi River

Note: Least Tern breeding colonies that contain >1% of the total inland Least Tern breeding population can qualify as a separate IBA. In Tennessee, the site must meet this requirement 4 out of the last 5 years (2001-2005). Randolph Bar is part of the IBA site, Mississippi Alluvial Valley in Tennessee.

Surveys: Interior Least Tern surveys have been conducted since 1985 by the Memphis District Army Corps of Engineers. In the period 2001-2005, a small boat survey technique was used to census the birds. Upon spotting a likely colony, terns were counted in the air and on the land from the boat as it drifted downstream. After this preliminary count, the site was usually surveyed on foot to count adults, nests, eggs, and chicks. (Jones 2005). See Least Tern Surveys in the Mississippi River for a summary and each county for a county breakdown--Lake County and Obion County, Dyer County, Lauderdale County, Tipton County, and Shelby County.

Location:  Randolph Bar, Tipton County, Tennessee.
Physiographic Province:  PIF 05 (Mississippi Alluvial Valley); BCR 26 (Mississippi Alluvial Valley)
Tennessee IBA Site Map - MR Randolph Bar.bmp (80006 bytes)
Geographical Coordinates:
     Randolph Bar--2005. Lat. 355283N  Long. 0898987W
     Randolph Bar--2004. Lat. 355283N  Long. 0898957W
     Randolph Bar--2003. Lat. 355305N  Long. 0898983W
     Randolph Bar--2002. Lat. 353154N  Long. 0895358W
     Randolph Bar--2001. Lat. 353150N  Long. 0895401W
Elevation Range:
     About 217' Randolph Bar
Size:  acres
USGS 7.5' quad:  Nodena

Description:

YEARSubstrateVegetationVegetation To Nearest Nest
(feet)
2005SandWillows50'
2004Sand/DebrisGrass/Forbs20'
2003Sand/DebrisWillows/Cottonwoods300'
2002Sand/Gravel/DebrisNone0'
2001SandNone0'

IBA Criteria:  1

Ornithological Importance:  Nest site of inland race of Least Tern, a Tennessee and Federal Endangered species, containing >1% of the total inland Least Tern population for that year.
    Note 1. 2005. Surveyed June 26. Nesting on left bank, approximately 50 feet from the river to the center of the nest site. Adults: 52. Eggs: 2 egg clutches. Nests: 1. Chicks: No. "Very high, unattached, mid-channel bar partially composed of dredging spoil over past few years. Heavy mobbing of observers with human and pet racks abundant with broken Tern eggs. Heavy recreational use with 21 humans at the waterline in boats and jet skis." TN Side. Map No. 51, A-I-14. Field Sighting Data Sheet A-II-34. (Jones 2005)
    Note 2. 2004. Surveyed July 23. Nesting on left bank, approximately 100 feet from the river to the center of the nest site. Adults: 200. Chicks: Yes. "Very high, unattached, mid-channel bar partially composed of dredging spoil over past few years. Colony estimate 1/2 mile in length with active scrapes upstream lower point. Chicks of all ages begging at the waterline. Goose and human tracks with camping debris." TN Side. Map No. 51, A-I-14. Field Sighting Data Sheet A-II-32. (Jones 2004)
    Note 3. 2003. Surveyed July 14. Nesting on left bank, approximately 150 feet from the river to the center of the nest site. Adults: 150. Eggs: 1,2,3 egg clutches. Chicks: Yes. "High, crescent shaped bar with dredging operation on channel side. Many fresh scrapes. Chicks confirmed by dredge workers. One hundred swallows resting on bar." TN Side. Map No. 51, A-I-16. Field Sighting Data Sheet A-II-38. (Jones 2003)
    Note 4. 2002. Surveyed July 8. Nesting on left bank, approximately 150 feet from the river to the center of the nest site. Adults: 84. Eggs: 2,3 egg clutches. Chicks: Yes. "High, crescent-shaped, mid-channel bar outside bend of river. Nests located along strong wrack line and in clean, featureless sand. One and one-half mile in length, this colony is unattached with no tracks or other signs of disturbance. Chicks in the process of hatching and up to 1 1/2 weeks old. birds fishing, breasting on river side and 4 total in transit above and below colony." TN Side. Map A-I-19. Field Sighting Data Sheet A-II-34. (Jones 2001)
    Note 5. 2001. Surveyed July 20. Nesting on left bank, approximately 300 feet from the river to the center of the nest site. Adults: 65. Eggs: 2 egg clutches. Chicks: No. "Mid-channel bar being augmented with dredging spoil. Active nests within 200 yards. of bulldozers working sand and water from exit pipe. Adults appear to be feeding on spoil running off back side of bar. Intense mobbing but no chicks located, just eggs." TN Side. Map A-I-14. Field Sighting Date Sheet A-II-60. (Jones 2001)

River Mile

2005
(Total Inland Population/>1%)
9,563/94 (a)
10,960/110 (b)

2004
(Total Inland Population/>1%)
9,061/91 (a)
11,239/112 (b)

2003
(Total Inland Population/>1%)
8,082/81 (a)

2002
(Total Inland Population/>1%)
5,802/58 (a)

2001
(Total Inland Population/>1%)
6,361/64 (a)

Source2

77152
(See Note 1 above.)		200
(See Note 2 above.)		150
(See Note 3 above.)		84
(See Note 4 above.)		65
(See Note 5 above.)		7
(a) Least Tern survey 2001-2003 was from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Vicksburg, Mississippi, for a total of 577 river miles.
Number reflect survey of 577 river miles.
(b) Least Tern survey 2004-2005 was extended 200 miles to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a total of 777 river miles.
Numbers reflect extended survey to 777 river miles.
Season1   B = Breeding, W = Wintering, SM = Spring Migration, FM = Fall Migration 
Source 2  1-Atlas Breeding Birds of Tennessee 2-Breeding Bird Surveys 3-Christmas Bird Counts
4-Point Counts 5-Refuge Counts 6-Personal observations 7-Other (Ken Jones, John Rumancik, et al.)

 

Ownership:  US Army Corps of Engineers
     Contact:  John Rumancik, Department of the Army, Memphis District Corps of Engineers, 167 North Main Street, B-202, Memphis, TN 38103-0894, (901) 544-3975,  John.P.Rumancik@mvm02.usace.army.mil.

Conservation Concerns:  Major concerns are predation and disturbance to birds.

Management Program:

Submitted by:

Additional Contributors:  Kenneth H. Jones, Associate Professor of Biology, Dyersburg State Community College, 1510 Lake Road, Dyersburg, TN 38024, 731-286-3367, kjones@dscc.edu.   John Rumancik, Department of the Army, Memphis District Corps of Engineers, 167 North Main Street, B-202, Memphis, TN 38103-0894, 901-544-3975,  John.P.Rumancik@mvm02.usace.army.mil.

References:
Jones, K. H. 2005. Population Survey of the Interior Least Tern on the Mississippi River from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Memphis District, Corps of Engineers.
Jones, K. H. 2004. Population Survey of the Interior Least Tern on the Mississippi River from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Memphis District, Corps  of Engineers.
Jones, K. H. 2003. Population Survey of the Interior Least Tern on the Mississippi River from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Memphis District, Corps  of Engineers.
Jones, K. H. 2002. Population Survey of the Interior Least Tern on the Mississippi River from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Memphis District, Corps  of Engineers.
Jones, K. H. 2001. Population Survey of the Interior Least Tern on the Mississippi River from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Memphis District, Corps  of Engineers.

Approved under the umbrella IBA site Mississippi Alluvial Valley:  February 2006--Yes 7  No 0

This page was last updated on 02/19/06.