Hi Tweeters,

I've just discovered Tweeters. What a wonderful resource! In an
attempt to be good little newbie, I've read the FAQ and researched my
topic through the archives. I promise to not talk about where j*zz
originated or complain about my c*t getting my birds. :) With that
said, on to the topic...

Via past postings from Fred Bird, Chris Hill, Stuart MacKay and Ed
Schulz most of you are aware of the caspian tern nesting situation in
Everett. For those not aware, a brief background supplied by Ed in a
prior message (thanks, Ed) is included below. Basically, the terns
were displaced by the Navy base and are not nesting in their alternate
human-created site and we want to know why. To that end, the
Snohomish Wetlands Alliance is in search of a caspian tern nesting
specialist to evaluate the current habitat options in the area in an
attempt to re-establish the nesting colony. We will be paying
transportation costs for a recognized specialist to come to Everett
from within the US. Any help that fellow Tweeters can offer towards
locating such a specialist would be greatly appreciated. I might even
be able to wheedle a Spencer Island t-shirt out of the board of
directors to offer as a finder's fee. But we already have dibs on
asking Dennis Paulson as our president will be calling him directly.
:)

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions you
might have. Thank you!!

Laurel Cheap
Secretary, Snohomish Wetlands Alliance
home phone: (206) 335-1810
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Laurel Cheap lcheap at u.washington.edu phone: (206) 543-6383
Information Systems University of Washington fax: (206) 543-0831
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From: "Ed Schulz" <eschulz at eldec.com>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 18:18:18 -0700
Subject: Volunteers needed: Everett Tern project

<snip>
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.
<snip>

Ed Schulz
Everett, WA
eschulz at eldec.com
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