This is a request for Tweeters in the Everett/N. Seattle area who might be
willing to help with the Caspian Tern project on Jetty Island. John
Flavin, along with a few other volunteers, is trying to clear brush and
grass off a fenced area about the size of half a city block on Jetty
Island in hopes of encouraging some Caspian Terns to nest there, since the
area on the Navy base has been lost.

We are working out there every weekend and sometimes during the week, too.
If you can help with some moderately physical work it would be much
appreciated.

Background: For several years, several thousand Caspian Terns had been
nesting on a part of the Navy base that was under construction. The Navy
finally built up the last corner that the terns were using and there has
been no successful nesting for two years now. The Navy has provided
fencing and some other help in trying to get the terns to move to the
island across the boat channel.

Status: Almost all the brush (blackberries, lupine, etc.) has been
cleared and the area has been fenced (about 130' x 500'). We are
currently trying to rake up as much of the grass and remaining growth as
possible in order to get down to sand (birds nest on the bare ground).
Caspian Tern decoys will be put out next Spring to try to lure them to the
area.

The Work: Mostly raking and hauling a wheelbarrow. However, we are
birders first and chain gang members second so binocs are kept close at
hand and every excuse to stop and watch is exploited to the fullest.
There are lots of terns, gulls, cormorants, spotted sandpipers, plovers,
blackbellied plovers, killdeer, osprey, swallows, some eagle and a
northern harrier. We usually catch the first ferry (10am Sat., 11am Sun.)
and head back around 3-4pm or whenever you need to go. Usually have lunch
on a log on the beach around noon and watch osprey get their's while John
tells stories of his birding past around the world, like the one about
some friends in Kenya who's pet cat was devoured by the "pet" martial
eagle. (Not trying to start another c-- thread here, really...)

If you are willing to help, please give John a call at 206-744-0805 so
that he will know when you can assist.

BTW, a recent count of the Everett osprey colony revealed about 22 young
birds, possible a few more, on 11 productive nests. At least 3 nests have
failed with one of the failures probably from predation. There are also
over 220 Double-crested Cormorant nests on a long row of pilings forming a
breakwater up by Steamboat Slough (north of the Snohomish River).

Ed Schulz
Everett, WA
eschulz at eldec.com