Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Caspian Terns on Kellogg Island
Date: Aug 9 11:26:36 2008
From: Douglas Canning - dcanning at zhonka.net


Tweets -

This conversation on Caspian Tern at Kellogg Island is fascinating,
especially the speculation on the possibility of nesting.

When, in 1977 - 1978, I was carrying out a wildlife study of the
proposed Terminal 107 (which included Kellogg Island and the adjacent
mainland), with an emphasis on birds, I saw not one tern of any kind.
Nor did we see any Purple Martin. (The big excitement of that time was
finding at least nine Gadwall broods on and near Kellogg Island, plus
seven Spotted Sandpiper nests on the island, neither of which the Port
at the time found to be welcome news.)

Can anyone tell of when Caspian Tern began hanging out at Kellogg
Island?

Presently, my favorite place to study Caspian Tern is Oyster Bay and
Kennedy Estuary of Mason County where I've recently seen upwards of 100
on the rising of the tide.

Doug Canning

On 7 Aug 2008 at 12:18, Paul Webster wrote:

From: "Paul Webster" <paul.webster at comcast.net>
Copies to: To: "Eugene and Nancy Hunn"
<enhunn323 at comcast.net>,
<tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date sent: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 12:18:40 -0700
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Caspian Terns on Kellogg Island,
Duwamish River,
Seattle

> Gene and Tweets,
>
> Barbara and I were down at Herring House (better: Kellog Island)
> watching Purple Martins yesterday, and we scoped more than 50 Caspian
> Terns (no Elegant Terns for us, either!) alternately loafing and
> noisily sparring with each other on small sand bars that were being
> covered by the rising tide. This immediate area probably wouldn't be
> suitable for nesting, though there might be space for them on Kellog
> Island itself. We have also seen the terns hanging out on Port of
> Seattle property east of Jack Block Park, where there is an old wharf
> (with several gourds to attract Purple Martins). Last evening we
> watched a spectacular quasi-courtship flight there by two of the terns
> in close formation. (I'm not familiar with the timing of their
> breeding behavior -- maybe it was just a late-season hormone rush.)
> But I've wondered if the terns might not find nesting space there,
> near the wharf. This area isn't accessible, but it seems unused, and
> perhaps the port would allow someone in to check it out.
>
> Paul Webster
> Seattle
> paul.websterATcomcast.net
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Eugene and Nancy Hunn
> To: 'tweeters'
> Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 6:03 PM
> Subject: [Tweeters] Caspian Terns on Kellogg Island, Duwamish River,
> Seattle
>
>
> Tweets,
>
>
>
> I tried to answer my own question about nesting by Caspian Terns in
> King County, following leads by several contributors. I didn't find
> any solid evidence but did locate a roosting flock of 77 Caspian
> Terns (and no Elegants. drat) on Kellogg Island visible from the
> newly rehabilitated salt marsh wetland off West Marginal Way south
> of the West Seattle bridge, a park called "Herring's House," once
> the site of a large Duwamish Indian village.
>
>
>
> Only one of the 77 was juvenile, and it was full grown, showing
> juvenal feathering on the back and a black tip to the bill. After
> about 20 minutes of loafing peaceably a half dozen adult Caspians
> started a row, harassing this poor juvenile and apparently
> attempting to drive it off. After five minutes of this cat fight
> they all settled down peaceably once again.
>
>
>
> Any sociobiological scenarios that might explain what was going on?
> I can't say if this juvenile was reared locally or not. It seems
> strange that if they did nest here they are entirely finished so
> early. Brien Meilleur did mention seeing adults bringing fish in in
> this vicinity, but I think that was last year.
>
>
>
> Gene.
>
> 18476 47th Pl. NE
>
> Lake Forest Park, WA
>
> enhunn323 at comcast.net
>


*******************************
Douglas Canning
Black Lake, Thurston Co., Wash.
dcanning at zhonka.net
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