I always find this perspective interesting... that birdwatchers can be
dismissive the protection of these birds because they nest on an
artificial island.

The Caspian terns nest on an artificial island because we have impacted
natural habitat nesting areas. Swallows nest under bridges, bluebirds
and wood ducks nest in man-made boxes, ospreys nest on telephone poles,
and woodpeckers nest in snags that people purchase from landscapers for
their backyards! Do these birds not deserve protection?

-Lauren Braden

Advocate for Wildlife Habitat
Seattle Audubon Society
Seattle Audubon Society protects birds and the natural environment by
involving volunteers and the community in education, advocacy,
preservation, science and enjoyment




-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah Wisti-Peterson [mailto:nyneve at u.washington.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 7:20 AM
To: Jon. Anderson and Marty Chaney
Cc: 'tweeters at u.washington.edu'; Deborah Wisti-Peterson
Subject: Re: Re - Caspian Terns



rice island is an artificial island. it is the result of dredging
activity in the columbia river to deepen the channel for barges
and other large boats. it isn't as though the caspian terns have
traditionally nested on this island because, after all, without
human activity, this island would not exist in the first place!

Deborah Wisti-Peterson email:nyneve at u.washington.edu
Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash, USA
Visit me on the web: http://students.washington.edu/~nyneve/
<><><>Graduate School: it's not just a job, it's an indenture!<><><>


On Tue, 30 May 2000, Jon. Anderson and Marty Chaney wrote:

[stuff elided for brevity's sake]

> Hi Ruth,
>
> Just wanted to mention that 'they' (Feds and University types) have
> banded and color-banded a number of Caspian Terns at the ill-starred
> nesting colony at the mouth of the Columbia. The Federal and State
> governments' 'wildlife' agencies have altered the habitat and hazed
the
> birds from their nesting colony on Rice Island in the Columbia River
> to reduce their predation on salmon & steelhead smolts - since 'They,
> are unwilling to modify the Columbia and Snake dams' effects on the
> fish or the other habitat maladies caused by 150 years of human ex-
> istance in the region, the birds are deemed the culprit and suffer the

> consequences.
>
> The birds have relocated to Sand Island, 5 miles below the Megler-
> Astoria bridge, and we can only hope that the terns' expected lower
> predation rates on salmonid smolts at that location will give the
agencies
> a reason to lessen their persecution of these birds.

[stuff elided for brevity's sake]