i was making an observation. your interpretation of that observation
belongs to you and to you only.

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 Wed, 31 May 2000, Lauren Braden wrote:

> 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]
>