On Wed. June 13, Fred Bird writes:

>They do not appear to be nesting this year. At least, they are not
>attempting to nest in the usual and accustomed places: NW corner of
>the Navy base and the yacht club parking lot on 13th street. John
>Flavin continues to see the birds over Jetty Island, with a recent
>record of eight seen June 5th over the island lagoon. The four birds
>seen checking out the base area several weeks ago never reappeared.
>Likewise, the three birds I saw courting at the parking lot in the
>last week of May never came back, though a pair has nested there for
>3-4 years. And, of course, there is the curious fact that the birds
>didnt show up in Everett in the first place until the end of May,
>almost a month late.

>What gives? The area has clearly become less hospitable, reduced as
>the birds have been to a dirt parking lot and Navy planter strips,
>while Flavins island clearing continues to be ignored. Is this
>peculiar colony finally writing its last chapter? Do similar small
>colonies, such as on the east coast, have occasional off years.
-----------------------------------------------------
Fred,

Are you referring to Arctic Terns or Caspian Terns? I was under the
impression that the main colony (ternery? heh,heh...) was Caspian Terns with
only a couple pair of Arctic Terns nesting here.

Ed Schulz
Everett, WA
eschulz at eldec.com