Caspian Terns nested mainly in the Columbia River (roughly 10,000 pairs); a small number (100-200 pairs) nested in the Potholes area. There is suspicion that a small number may have nested in Commencement Bay, but I am unaware of any evidence/data to confirm this. A little known and, therefore, unappreciated fact about Caspian Terns is that fledglings accompany one or both of their parents for up to 9 months after fledging. Further, given the ability of these birds to disperse very large distances (e.g. hundreds of miles) in a matter of days, seeing a fledgling beg from a parent does NOT imply that the birds bred anywhere near that location.

Chris

Chris Thompson
Research Scientist
Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

>>> ian paulsen <ipaulsen at linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us> 08/24/01 04:24PM >>>
HI ALL:
I just saw a juvenile Caspian Tern begging from an adult here on
Bainbridge Island at eagle harbor. Does anyone know if they nested
anywhere in Puget Sound this year or did this young bird come from
somewhere else?

Sincerely
Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Is., WA, USA
ipaulsen at linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way"