Subject: Everett Arctic Tern update
Date: Jul 31 14:47:49 1995
From: fredbird - fredbird


Arctic Tern update

I apologize. This update/correction is long overdue, but at least the news is
good. The Everett Caspian colony may have been vanquished from the Navy base,
but the 3-pair Arctic Tern group was able to evade the Navy and adapt to
changing circumstances and successfully produce five young. All this news
comes from the Ternman, John Flavin who has free run of the Navy Base and
adjacent Everett Port properties. Here are the details: two pairs of Arctics
managed to sneak in and lay eggs (pair #1 on Mem. Day weekend and pair #2 10
days later) on parking lot planters (islands) near previous years nesting
areas in the northwest corner of the base. Once the eggs were laid, John saw
to the area being fenced off and both pairs successfully fledged two young
each. Meanwhile, the third pair nesting in the Everett Yacht Club Overflow
Parking Lot on 13th Street (Eycopl XIII) raised and fledged one young. All the
Arctics have now flown the coop. The grand total of five young fledged is the
best annual record in Johns memory. Mine too.

Two additional notes are:

(1) a pair of Ring-billed Gulls raised two young in another parking lot
planter adjacent to the Arctics. Is this unusual? John seems to think so.

(2) predation on the local Caspians by Bald Eagles around Jetty Island is
significant, according to John. I recall some controversy about this Bald
Eagle predation claim in years past. Does such a controversy yet exist? In my
limited observation of the area I have often watched at a distance as the
eagles patrolled the Caspian-littered beaches, swooping down occasionally as
if looking for lunch. I have not, however, actually seen a kill. Any thoughts?

------------------------------------------------
Fred Bird
fredbird at halcyon.com
1249 NE 92nd Street Snohomish County Council staff
Seattle, Washington 98115 206-388-3494
206-526-5671