The Arctic Tern has a broad breeding range, from Atlantic Canada to the High Arctic, and uses both freshwater and marine habitats. Few monitoring data are available across most of this range and the status of the population in Canada remains unknown. However, observations of declines in Arctic Canada are causes for concern. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Subsistence harvest of eggs may have contributed historically to declines around some northern communities, but population-level effects are unknown (Hatch 2002). In Atlantic Canada, current pressures include coastal development, which limits the number of islands available for nesting, and changes in coastal ecosystems and local food webs (Gaston et al. 2009). Recent declines in the Canadian Arctic have been reported by several Inuit communities, and are harder to explain in terms of coastal development. These declines may reflect issues along the Arctic Tern’s extensive migration route, and on its wintering grounds.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
