The working title of my thesis is “Population dynamics of Sooty Terns”. I have monitored the breeding biology of Sooty Terns Sterna fuscata on Ascension Island in the tropical South Atlantic since 1990. This long term study commenced in 1985 and is self funded. My primary research interests are to quantify the levels of predation on Sooty Terns from invasive alien species, to precisely monitor the breeding population and to determine nest, juvenile and adult survival rates. Feral Cats were one of the main predators of Sooty Terns. Unconnected with my research on the Island was a major cat eradication programme. This was managed by the RSPB and successfully completed in 2003. As a result of this change to the predatory dynamics in the tern colony my work now is focused on measuring the outcomes of the cat eradication programme. The doctoral research I am carrying out will provide an answer to the question “Will the breeding population of Sooty Terns alter as a result of the eradication of cats and if so why?” I have a cohort of 6000 ringed birds and good base line data to quantify the impact of the Feral Cat eradication programme on Sooty Terns. My supervisor at Birmingham is Prof. Graham Martin and my co-supervisor is Dr. Jim Reynolds. I have been a part time student at Birmingham since 1995 when I enrolled on the university’s Certificate in Ornithology and then went on to complete the Diploma in Ornithology in 2003. I registered as a part time PhD student in 2005 and will complete my research and thesis in 2011. My other research interests are the abundance of Wattled Ibis in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia and Quail on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.
Hughes B. J. & Wearn C. 2005. Longevity of Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata on Ascension Island. Atlantic Seabirds 7: 42-43.
Ratcliffe N., Hughes J. & Roberts F. A. 1999. The population Status of Sooty Terns Sterna fuscata on Ascension Island. Atlantic Seabirds 1: 159 - 168.
Reynolds, J., Martin, G. R., Wallace, L. L. Wearn, C., and Hughes, B. J. 2008. Sexing sooty terns (Onychoprion fuscata) on Ascension Island from morphometric measurements. Journal of Zoology, 274: 2-8
