The Little Tern is a summer migratory bird that comes to Naha Military Port
to nest. They are ground nesting and their eggs are quite small
(quail-size). DPW works closely with the units and tenants in that area to
make sure any nests are marked and barricaded to prevent pedestrian or
vehicular traffic from disturbing the nests. The eggs take about 19-21 days
to hatch, and another 19-21 days to fledge (to take flight).
The Kentish Plover also lays eggs at Naha Port, as well as at Torii Beach,
and can be either migratory or resident birds. Like the Little Tern, they
are ground-nesting and the eggs are also very small (quail-size).
The DPW Roads & Grounds (R&G), 835th Supply, the bird-monitoring
contractors, and DPW's Natural Resource Manager, Tomoko Ikema and
the MWR Beach Crewall deserve recognition for their proactive works in
setting up protectivemeasures during May and June, which included sand,
flexible pipe and concrete shelters and cones at Naha Port for the Little Terns.
Despite some heavy rains and tropical storms, they were able to account for 23 out
of 28 chicks after these events. Brandy Hawley, DPW Environmental Division Chief
at Torii Station believes that the shelters played a large part in their survival.
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