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Re: Baby-sitting a tern-skimmer colony



I agree with yiou john, there are too many colonies being disturbed by beach
goers.  up here in Nova Scotia similar projects are also being done with the
last few reminaing roseate tern colonies.  Thought it also includes the
systematic removal of crows and large gulls, it has been fairly successful.
Though the bird is on the verge of extripation from Canada, these little
efforts by the "island police" are essential if we want to continue seeing
this species on our coast.  every little fledgling is one bird in air.

Tony Bezanson
Lake Echo, NS
birdman@aircadet.com
bezanson@ns.sympatico.ca




-----Original Message-----
From: John Fussell <jfuss@bmd.clis.com>
To: Carolinabirds <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
Date: July 17, 2000 10:05 AM
Subject: Baby-sitting a tern-skimmer colony


>I hope this is appropriate for Carolinabirds.  I don't think it's a
"general
>conservation issue".
>
>I spent yesterday baby-sitting the tern-skimmer colony on Sand Dollar
Island
>(Rachel Carson Reserve), Beaufort Inlet, NC.
>
>This is a very small island and very small colony--we've marked off about
>200' x 200' x 200'.  There are about 20-40 nesting pairs of Common Terns
and
>Black Skimmers.
>
>The colony is certainly doing better than would be the case if we had not
>roped it off and were not doing some policing of it.
>
>However, now that some of the young are large, I see that we are actually
>facing the most tenuous part of the endeavor.  Many, many beachgoers come
to
>the island, often bringing dogs.  The oldest young are now 1)inclined to
>panic easily because of disturbance; 2) inclined to move toward the shore,
>where it's cooler (and thus outside the roped-off area).
>
>20-30 years ago, I wouldn't have thought it justified to try to protect
such
>a small colony, but with the decline of nesting colonies of these species,
I
>think it's justifed now.  Besides, it doesn't seem right to not protect a
>nesting colony in a Reserve named for Rachel Carson.
>
>                                         John Fussell
>                                         Morehead City, NC
>                                         jfuss@bmd.clis.com
>
>