Hello List,

The color-marked Caspian terns observed at the mouth of the Walla Walla
River (WA) about a week ago (see below) are in fact part of a study to
determine foraging habitat selection of Caspian terns nesting in this area.
Each of the 12 study birds were fitted with radio-transmitters
(attached to their tail feathers, so that the radio-tags will be shed
when molt occurs) and color-marked with a non-toxic pink dye. We use the
dye to help identify the radio-tagged individuals from a distance (from
shore, boats, or fixed-wing aircraft) or within a group of terns while
their foraging activities are being monitored. The dye will fade to pale
pink in another week or two and be totally gone in a few weeks after that.

This work is part of a larger study led by Dr. Dan Roby (USGS/Oregon State
University) and Ken Collis (Real Time Research). Further information on
the study can be seen at www.ColumbiaBirdResearch.org

We would appreciate any information on sitings of these birds over the course
of the summer. Reports of sitings can be sent to Garrett Dorsey, OSU, at
dorseyg at ucs.orst.edu

Thanks to Chris Thompson, WDFW, for the initial clarification of the
color-marked tern siting and for bringing this report to our attention.

Don Lyons
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Oregon State University
104 Nash Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
lyonsd at ucs.orst.edu


> Subject: Super PINK Caspian Terns
> From: "Mike Denny" <m.denny AT charter.net>
> Date: Sun, 18 May 2003 17:38:38 -0700
>
> Hello All,
> It appears that Caspian Terns have been dyed vivid pink in the Lower Columbia
> Basin of Washington so that this species movements can be tracked at a glance.
> How this connects to proposed plans to kill off a portion of the population to
> protect salmon I do not yet know. On 17 May 2003 we observed 3 dyed adult
> Caspian Terns out on the Walla Walla River delta. How many were dyed, by whom
> and for what I donot yet know. These birds were dyed this last week as there
> were none on the delta last weekend. Whoever did the dye job went way over
> board! No they are not spoonbills.
>
> Later Mike
>
> ********************************************************************
> Mike & MerryLynn Denny
> 323 Scenic View Drive
> College Place, WA 99324
> 509.529.0080 (h)
>
> IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
> *******************************************************************

> Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 07:32:31 -0700
> From: "Chris Thompson" <THOMPCWT at dfw.wa.gov>
> To: <m.denny at charter.net>
> Cc: <obol at lists.orst.edu>
> Subject: Re: [obol] Super PINK Caspian Terns
>
> These birds were almost certainly dyed by Dr. Dan Roby and his colleagues
> at Oregon State University to track movements of Caspian Terns. Dan has
> been studying Caspian Terns in the Lower Columbia Estuary since 1997. For
> more info, see the web site for the project at www.columbiabirdresearch.org.
> This research, including dying birds, is NOT part of any plan to kill
> Caspian Terns, contrary to Mike Denny's assumption.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Chris
>
> Chris Thompson, Ph.D.
> Research Scientist
> Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
>
>