Tweeters,

I am forwarding the attached message from Joe Engler, Wildlife
Biologist for the Ridgefield NWR complex. It appears that Black Terns
have nested successfully at the refuge. However, it sounds like no one
has seen the Black-necked Stilt chicks there since late June. If
anyone has seen any evidence of the Stilts successfully fledging young
at the Ridgefield NWR (River S Unit), please post a message to
TWEETERS or to Joe Engler at joe_engler at r1.fws.gov .

Wayne C. Weber
Kamloops, BC
contopus at home.com


----- Original Message -----
From: <Joe_Engler at r1.fws.gov>
To: <contopus at home.com>
Cc: <godwit at worldnet.att.net>; <rrogers122 at home.com>; <sgmlod at aol.com>
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 2:50 PM
Subject: black terns


> Hi Wayne,
>
> Via your notes to me, I thought I'd give you a quick update on the
black
> terns at Ridgefield NWR. They have nested. We have been monitoring
off
> and on for the past few weeks - the terns have been feeding chicks
for over
> 2 weeks and we expect fledging at any time. We have located one of
at
> least 3 nests. The chicks 'fled' the nest and were not seen (as
they are
> expected to do), but the adults continued to make feeding runs to
the
> chicks and dive bomb the technician in the area.
>
> First stilts, now black terns - is this a sign of poor conditions
> elsewhere?
>
> Cheers
>
> Joseph D. Engler
> Wildlife Biologist
> USFWS, Ridgefield NWR Complex
> P.O. Box 457
> Ridgefield, WA 98642
> phone: 1-360-887-4106
> email: joe_engler at r1.fws.gov
>
>