Save The California Least Tern

Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) which protects their eggs, nest, and feathers from being captured and killed (California Least Tern, 2009).

Endangered Species Act of 1973  which works to provide protection from the Least Tern against federal activities. While also providing protection of their habitat against destruction; and helps set restrictions on activities like trading and capturing resources from beach ecosystems. This Act also requires a recovery plan for the species and gets officials to focus on protecting the Least Tern. The recovery plan includes protection including the removal of current threats and habitat protection. The levels of breeding pairs have increased since the recovery plan was put into place and many more regulations have helped the birds survive. Many things still need to get done, including determining population trends and habitat requirements, protection during breeding, manage of water levels, develop public awareness and law enforcement actions (Listing and Critical Habitat, 2017)  (California Least Tern).

California Coastal Act which works with local and federal government to establish certain places on or near the beach accessible to public and zones off limits in hopes of preserving the habitats of CA Least Tern (The Past, Present, and Future Of the California Coastal Act, 2017).  (California Least Tern, 2006)

National Environmental Policy Act makes sure that all branches of government give consideration to the environment before starting any federal action that in any way affects the environment which helps the CA Least Tern as a species because this act can be applied to any construction near their habitat (Summary of the National Environmental Policy Act, 2017) (California Least Tern, 2006)

Clean Air Act helps regulate air pollution and puts restrictions on levels of air pollution output from industries. Such regulations help climate change from increasing and helps keep the air clean for CA Least Tern. This also helps with noise pollution and smog control for the CA Least Tern  (Ross, 2012) (California Least Tern, 2006)

National WIldlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 which includes: “a requirement that the Secretary of the Interior maintain the biological integrity, diversity and environmental health of the Refuge System; a new process for determining compatible uses on refuges; a recognition that wildlife-dependent recreational uses involving hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation, when determined to be compatible, are legitimate and appropriate public uses of the Refuge System that these compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses are the priority general public uses of the Refuge System; and a requirement for preparing a comprehensive conservation plan for each refuge.” (National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, 2011)(California Least Tern, 2006)

U.S. Navy/ Marine corps have helped create procedures to protect the birds nests and chicks through practices like beach cleanups and maintenance on the Least Tern habitat. Predators are either relocated or fenced away from the birds (California Least Tern, 2006) (Vazquez II, 2013)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (1980) (California Least Tern) does education, and creates the recovery plan ( California Least Tern, 2016)

San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) partners with the San Diego Audubon Society to do restoration events, ‘ternwatching’ (volunteers watch CA Least Tern nest and protect them from predators), and Tern Leaders, who guide people around to educate them (San Diego Audubon Society, 2017).

San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) also works with the San Diego Audubon Society by managing and restoring nesting habitats (San Diego Audubon Society, 2017).