[Tweeters] Caspian Tern Colonies

[Tucker, Trileigh]

Hi Jim,

My go-to resource is Cornell’s Birds of the World<https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home>. It’s accessible for free and easily if you join the Sno-Isle library system<https://sno-isle.bibliocommons.com/user/login?destination=%2Fezproxy%2Fauthenticate%3Furl%3Dezp.2aHR0cHM6Ly9iaXJkc29mdGhld29ybGQub3JnLw-->. It includes lots of detailed behavior, phenology, and other information, and includes embedded references for further research publications.

Hope that there you can learn what you’re curious about!

Trileigh

Trileigh Tucker, PhD
Pelly Valley, West Seattle
NaturalPresenceArts.com<http://naturalpresencearts.com/>



From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com <jimbetz at jimbetz.com>
Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 2:22 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Caspian Tern Colonies
Hi, I don't know of a 'colony' location. I do know that there are Caspian Terns that patrol the West shore of Whidbey and also are often seen at Camano and Smith islands. All three of these are possibly(likely?) from the colony at Rat/Fort Flagler. And I've seen Caspians at Fir Island and Marches Point (old 50's spelling! and pronunciation) and Samish Island. I have NO idea what-so-ever how far a Caspian Tern will go in a single day. With most species the existence of a "colony" is an indication of easy food ("close") during the breeding season. I wouldn't consider West Beach on Whidbey to be 'close' to Flagler ... ? I continue to be "unimpressed" (read "dissatisfied") with the available literature/documentation with respect to bird behaviors. Even simple stuff like 'what does this species eat?' and/or 'what does it eat during the ____ season?' is pretty hard to dig out. I keep thinking that there must be some kind of searchable/easy to use resource that 'serious birders and ornithologists use' ... but I've yet to learn of them or even to be told "well, there is ____, but since you aren't a professor of ornithology at Cornell you can't get access to it." I love eBird, Merlin, All About Birds, etc., etc., etc. - but as soon as I have a question that goes beyond merely scratching the surface I keep not getting answers. Or worse yet - answers that are clearly speculation by someone who just wants to be (has to be?) helpful. I want reliable, deep dive, authorities! *G* Case in point ... why can't Steve Hampton simply look up and find where all of the Caspian Tern colonies are in Washington? - Jim
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