WEEKLY Update for 8/4 – 8/10/2014
8/4 – 8/10/14 ›
This completes our regular weekly reporting of field research activities in the Columbia Plateau region for 2014
8/8/14 ›
Salmonid smolt PIT tag recovery conducted on the tern and gull colonies at the Blalock Islands in the mid-Columbia River
8/7/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; a total of 33 adult Caspian terns were counted on Goose Island (near shoreline); 1 attended Caspian tern nest and 1 Caspian tern chick were observed on the northwest rocky islet, where Caspian terns nested earlier this season; also observed on Goose Island and nearby rocky islets were California gulls (51 adults and 18 juveniles), ring-billed gulls (55 adults and 9 juveniles), and Forster’s terns (88 adults, 3 attended nests, and 16 chicks)
8/7/14 ›
Salmonid smolt PIT tag recovery conducted on the Caspian tern colony at Twinning Island in Banks Lake
8/5 – 8/6/14 ›
Salmonid smolt PIT tag recovery conducted on the gull colony at Crescent Island in the mid-Columbia River
8/4/14 ›
Salmonid smolt PIT tag recovery conducted on the Caspian tern colony at Crescent Island in the mid-Columbia River
8/4/14 ›
Salmonid smolt PIT tag recovery commenced at various piscivorous waterbird colonies in the Columbia Plateau region
WEEKLY Update for 7/28 – 8/3/2014
7/28 – 8/3/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 1,650 nesting gulls (about 50% ring-billed gulls) and 53 roosting Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns are nesting amongst nesting gulls on a small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 227 adult Caspian terns, 8 attended Caspian tern nests, and 16 Caspian tern chicks on the northwest rocky islet; by the end of the week there were only 2 attended tern nests on the northwest rocky islet; the northwest rocky islet is now connected to the main Goose Island by a sandbar that emerged as reservoir levels continued to drop; efforts continue to dissuade Caspian terns from nesting on Goose Island; no egg laying or other nesting behaviors by Caspian terns was observed on Goose Island this week
8/1/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on the Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; a total of 61 adult Caspian terns, 0 attended Caspian tern nests, and 11 Caspian tern chicks were counted on the Blalock Islands; also observed on the Blalock Islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting Forster’s terns, and roosting American white pelicans
7/29/14 ›
No Caspian terns were observed on the Crescent Island tern colony in the mid-Columbia River
WEEKLY Update for 7/21 – 7/27/2014
7/21 – 7/27/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 4,060 nesting gulls (about 50% ring-billed gulls) and 70 roosting Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns are nesting amongst nesting gulls on a small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 267 adult Caspian terns, 36 attended Caspian tern nests, and 24 Caspian tern chicks on the northwest rocky islet; a peregrine falcon caused all of nesting gulls and terns to flush from the northwest rocky islet on 7/21; the northwest rocky islet is now connected to the main Goose Island by a sandbar that emerged as reservoir levels continued to drop; efforts continue to dissuade Caspian terns from nesting on Goose Island using a laser during crepuscular periods; no egg laying by Caspian terns was observed on Goose Island this week
7/21 – 7/27/14 ›
High counts during the week of 79 adult Caspian terns and 16 Caspian tern chicks on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; fledging of Caspian tern chicks from the Crescent Island colony is nearly complete, causing a major decline in the number of Caspian terns (adults and juveniles) counted on colony in recent weeks
7/26/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on the Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; a total of 36 adult Caspian terns, 0 attended Caspian tern nests, 11 Caspian tern chicks, and 1 Caspian tern fledgling were counted on the Blalock Islands, mostly on two small, gravel islands between Anvil and Sand islands; also observed on the Blalock Islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting great egrets, nesting Forster’s terns, and roosting American white pelicans
7/21/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on the Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; 34 adult Caspian terns, 5 attended Caspian tern nests, 17 Caspian tern chicks, and 1 Caspian tern fledgling counted; Caspian terns were observed attending nests on two different small islands in the Blalock Islands group between Anvil Island and Sand Island; also observed on the Blalock Islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting great egrets, nesting Forster’s terns, roosting American white pelicans, and roosting double-crested cormorants
WEEKLY Update for 7/14 – 7/20/2014
7/14 – 7/20/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 4,100 nesting gulls (about 50% ring-billed gulls) and 80 roosting Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns are nesting amongst nesting gulls on a small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 312 adult Caspian terns, 32 attended Caspian tern nests, and 30 Caspian tern chicks on the northwest rocky islet; the northwest rocky islet is now connected to the main Goose Island by a sandbar that emerged as reservoir levels continued to drop; efforts continue to dissuade Caspian terns from nesting on Goose Island using a laser during crepuscular periods; no egg laying by Caspian terns was observed on Goose Island this week
7/14 – 7/20/14 ›
High counts during the week of 114 adult Caspian terns and 33 Caspian tern chicks on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; fledging of Caspian tern chicks from the Crescent Island colony well underway, causing a decline in the number of Caspian terns (adults and juveniles) counted on colony the past few weeks compared to previous weeks; also observed nesting on the island were ca. 400 adult California gulls and 23 adult ring-billed gulls; black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons are also nesting on island
7/14 – 7/20/14 ›
Twenty-five of 30 Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island-Potholes Reservoir this season continued to transmit fixes of their locations on the landscape; 15 of 25 Caspian terns with functional satellite tags were detected at least once this week at Goose Island-Potholes; 11 of the 25 satellite-tagged Caspian terns spent some or all of the week outside the Columbia Plateau region, including on the coast at Richmond, British Columbia, at Grays Harbor, Washington, and in the Columbia River estuary, and inland along the Snake River near Payette, Idaho and near Mountain Home, Idaho, and at the Salton Sea in southeastern California and at the northern end of the Gulf of California; during the week 24% of satellite-tagged Caspian terns used the Snake or Columbia rivers for foraging, the same as the previous week; this will be the last reporting of weekly movements of satellite-tagged terns; post-breeding dispersal patterns of satellite-tagged terns from Goose Island-Potholes will be summarized in subsequent reports to the funding agencies
7/20/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 219 adult American white pelicans and 30 American white pelican chicks counted on or near island
7/16/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 64 double-crested cormorants and at least 28 active cormorant nests (with chicks) counted; also observed on island were multiple roosting birds (i.e., Caspian terns, ring-billed gulls, American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants) at each end of the island
7/15/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Miller Rocks, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of ca. 1,015 California gulls (with chicks) and 27 ring-billed gulls (with chicks) counted; also counted on the island were 5 roosting double-crested cormorants
7/15/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on the Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; 87 adult Caspian terns, 9 attended Caspian tern nests, 13 Caspian tern chicks, and 2 Caspian tern fledglings counted; Caspian terns were observed attending nests on two different small islands in the Blalock Islands group; also observed on the Blalock Islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting great egrets, nesting Forster’s terns, roosting American white pelicans, roosting double-crested cormorants, and roosting great blue herons
7/14/14 ›
Survey of waterbird nesting on Twinning Island in Banks Lake; 18 roosting Caspian terns and a minimum of ca. 250 nesting California gulls (with chicks) counted; formerly initiated Caspian tern nests on Twinning Island have all failed
WEEKLY Update for 7/7 – 7/13/2014
7/7 – 7/13/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 6,600 nesting gulls (about 50% ring-billed gulls) and 162 roosting Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns are nesting amongst nesting gulls on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 224 adult Caspian terns, 50 attended Caspian tern nests, and 46 Caspian tern chicks on northwest rocky islet; the northwest rocky islet became connected to the main Goose Island this week by a sandbar that emerged as reservoir levels continued to drop; efforts continue to dissuade Caspian terns from nesting on Goose Island using a laser during crepuscular periods; no egg laying by Caspian terns was observed on Goose Island this week; boaters/fishers continue to utilize the area immediately adjacent to Goose Island for recreation, causing occasional disturbances to nesting and roosting birds, including nesting Forster’s terns
7/7 – 7/13/14 ›
High counts during the week of 213 adult Caspian terns and 67 Caspian tern chicks on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; fledging of Caspian tern chicks from the Crescent Island colony well underway, causing a decline in the number of terns (adults and juveniles) counted on colony this week compared to previous weeks; also observed nesting on the island were ca. 500 adult California gulls and 13 adult ring-billed gulls; black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons are also nesting on island
7/7 – 7/13/14 ›
Twenty-five of 30 Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island-Potholes Reservoir this season continued to transmit fixes of their locations on the landscape; 11 of the 25 Caspian terns with functional satellite tags spent some or all of the week outside the Columbia Plateau region, including along the coast from the Salish Sea region of British Columbia to the north and Nehalem Bay, Oregon, to the south, at interior sites from British Columbia near Buffalo Creek to the north and to the northern portion of the Gulf of California to the south, and along the Snake River near Payette, ID; one satellite-tagged tern that had spent time at the Adolfo Ruiz Cortines Reservoir near Mocuzari (Sonora, Mexico) flew north more than 500 miles to the Salton Sea region; the rest of the satellite-tagged terns remained in the Columbia Plateau region with most (16) spending time around Goose Island-Potholes this past week; during the week 24% of satellite-tagged Caspian terns used the Snake or Columbia rivers for foraging, down from 31% the previous week
7/11/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 75 adult American white pelicans and 129 American white pelican chicks counted on or near island; also observed on the island were 20 loafing Caspian terns
7/9/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 199 double-crested cormorants and at least 78 active cormorant nests (with chicks) counted; also observed on island were nesting great blue herons, nesting great egrets, and multiple roosting birds (i.e., black-crowned night-herons, Caspian terns, ring-billed gulls, American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants) at each end of the island
7/8/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Harper Island in Sprague Lake; no Caspian terns were observed on island; formerly initiated Caspian tern nests on Harper Island have all apparently failed and been abandoned; also observed on island were ca. 945 nesting ring-billed gulls (with chicks), ca. 730 nesting California gulls (with chicks), and 473 double-crested cormorants (adults and juveniles, and about 28 attended cormorant nests), and one roosting American white pelican
7/8/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on the Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; 75 adult Caspian terns, 15 attended Caspian tern nests, 18 Caspian tern chicks, and 3 Caspian tern fledglings counted; Caspian terns were observed attending nests on two different small islands in the Blalock Islands group; also observed on the Blalock Islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting great egrets, nesting Forster’s terns, roosting American white pelicans, and roosting double-crested cormorants
WEEKLY Update for 6/30 – 7/6/2014
6/30 – 7/6/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 6,470 nesting gulls (about 70% ring-billed gulls) and 88 roosting Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns are nesting amongst nesting gulls on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 263 adult Caspian terns, 65 attended Caspian tern nests, and 45 Caspian tern chicks on northwest rocky islet; efforts continue to dissuade Caspian terns from nesting on Goose Island using a laser during crepuscular periods; no egg laying by Caspian terns was observed on Goose Island this week; two large disturbances to nesting terns and gulls on and around Goose Island were observed this week, both caused by recreational boaters
6/30 – 7/6/14 ›
High counts during the week of 338 adult Caspian terns and 143 Caspian tern chicks on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; fledging of Caspian tern chicks from the Crescent Island colony well underway this week; also observed nesting on the island were ca. 1,600 adult California gulls and 17 adult ring-billed gulls; black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons are also nesting on island
6/30 – 7/6/14 ›
Twenty-six of 30 Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island-Potholes Reservoir this season continued to transmit fixes of their locations on the landscape; 10 of the 26 Caspian terns with functional satellite tags spent some or all of the week outside the Columbia Plateau region, including along the coast in the Salish Sea region, at interior sites from the Salton Sea to the northern portion of the Gulf of California, and along the Snake River near Payette, ID; one satellite-tagged tern spend time at the Adolfo Ruiz Cortines Reservoir near Mocuzari (Sonora, Mexico); the rest of the satellite-tagged terns remained in the Columbia Plateau region with most (14) spending time in around Goose Island this past week; during the week 31% of satellite-tagged Caspian terns used the Snake or Columbia rivers for foraging, up from 15% the previous week
7/6/14 ›
Survey of waterbird nesting islands in southern Banks Lake; 16 roosting Caspian terns and a minimum of ca. 1,550 nesting California gulls (some with chicks) counted on Twinning Island; formerly initiated Caspian tern nests on Twinning Island have all apparently failed; a minimum of ca. 125 nesting ring-billed gulls (with chicks), ca. 115 nesting California gulls (with chicks), 11 nesting great blue herons (with chicks), 9 roosting American white pelicans, and one roosting Caspian tern counted on Goose Island in Banks Lake
7/3/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 73 adult American white pelicans and 19 American white pelican chicks counted on or near island
7/3/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 204 double-crested cormorants and at least 136 active cormorant nests (with chicks) counted; also observed on island was one nesting great blue heron and multiple roosting birds (i.e., black-crowned night-herons, Caspian terns, ring-billed gulls, California gulls, American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants) at each end of the island
7/2/14 ›
First Caspian tern fledgling observed on Goose Island in Potholes Reservoir; the fledgling was raised on the small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island
6/30/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Miller Rocks, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of ca. 2,560 California gulls (ca. 1,670 chicks) and 63 ring-billed gulls (2 chicks) counted; also counted on the island were 6 roosting double-crested cormorants
6/30/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on the Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; 112 adult Caspian terns, 23 attended Caspian tern nests, and 9 Caspian tern chicks counted; Caspian terns were observed attending nests on two different small islands in the Blalock Islands group; also observed on the Blalock Islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting great egrets, nesting great blue herons, nesting Forster’s terns, roosting American white pelicans, roosting black-crowned night-herons, and roosting double-crested cormorants
WEEKLY Update for 6/23 – 6/29/2014
6/23 – 6/29/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 6,660 nesting gulls (about 70% ring-billed gulls) and 138 roosting Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns are nesting amongst nesting gulls on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 175 nesting Caspian terns, 80 attended Caspian tern nests, and 63 Caspian tern chicks on northwest rocky islet; both terns and gulls on nests with eggs and/or chicks on northwest rocky islet; efforts continue to dissuade Caspian terns from nesting on Goose Island using a laser during crepuscular periods; no egg laying by Caspian terns was observed on Goose Island this week
6/23 – 6/29/14 ›
High counts during the week of 262 nesting Caspian terns, 209 attended Caspian tern nests, and 182 Caspian tern chicks on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; also observed on the island were ca. 2,150 California gulls (about 825 attended nests) and 21 ring-billed gulls (about 4 attended nests); black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons are also nesting on island
6/23 – 6/29/14 ›
Twenty-six of 28 Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island-Potholes Reservoir continued to transmit fixes of their locations on the landscape; on 6/25 one adult Caspian tern was captured on Goose Island to re-deploy a satellite tag that was recovered from a dead tern near Everett, WA; tagged tern was released unharmed and its movements are being recorded; 11 of the 26 Caspian terns with functional satellite tags spent some or all of the week outside the Columbia Plateau region, including along the Pacific Coast from the Salish Sea region to San Francisco Bay and at interior sites from the Salton Sea to the northern portion of the Gulf of California; one satellite-tagged tern continues to spend time at the Presa Alvaro Oberon Reservoir north of Cuidad Obergon (Sonora, Mexico); 15 satellite-tagged terns that remained in the Columbia Plateau region visited Goose Island at least once this week; other colony sites visited in the Columbia Plateau region include Harper Island in Sprague Lake (1) and Twinning Island in Banks Lake (2); during the week 15% of satellite-tagged terns used the Snake or Columbia rivers for foraging, down from 36% the previous week
6/29/14 ›
Survey of waterbird nesting islands in southern Banks Lake; 7 roosting Caspian terns and a minimum of ca. 1,400 nesting California gulls (some with chicks) counted on Twinning Island; formerly initiated Caspian tern nests on Twinning Island have all apparently failed; a minimum of ca. 310 nesting ring-billed gulls (with chicks), ca. 140 nesting California gulls (with chicks), and 2 nesting great blue herons (with chicks) counted on Goose Island
6/29/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Harper Island in Sprague Lake; a minimum of 12 roosting Caspian terns counted on island; formerly initiated Caspian tern nests on Harper Island have all apparently failed; also observed on island were ca. 2,550 nesting ring-billed gulls (with chicks), ca. 650 nesting California gulls (with chicks), and 230 nesting double-crested cormorants (about 104 attended nests with chicks)
6/26/14 ›
155 Caspian tern chicks captured and banded at Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River
6/25/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 113 American white pelicans counted on or near island
6/24 – 6/25/14 ›
Third aerial survey of mid-Columbia River, lower Snake River, and much of Columbia Plateau region looking for incipient and extant Caspian tern, double-crested cormorant, and gull (spp.) colonies; no new Caspian tern or gull colonies detected; one new double-crested cormorant colony (8 active nests) observed on transmission tower above Rock Island Dam; so far this year three small new double-crested cormorant colonies have been detected (the other two were detected in northeastern Potholes Reservoir and on the mid-Columbia River in the Hanford Reach)
6/24/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Harper Island in Sprague Lake; a minimum of 17 Caspian terns and 2 attended Caspian tern nests (eggs or chicks not confirmed) counted on island; also observed on island were ca. 2,800 nesting ring-billed gulls (with chicks), ca. 560 nesting California gulls (with chicks), and 219 nesting double-crested cormorants (about 108 attended nests with chicks)
6/23/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 334 double-crested cormorants and at least 202 active cormorant nests (with chicks) counted; also observed on island were nesting great blue herons and nesting great egrets
6/23/14 ›
First Caspian tern fledgling observed on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River
WEEKLY Update for 6/16 – 6/22/2014
6/16 – 6/22/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 6,270 nesting gulls (about 70% ring-billed gulls) and 124 roosting Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns are nesting amongst nesting gulls on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high counts during the week of 189 nesting Caspian terns, 89 attended Caspian tern nests, and 75 Caspian tern chicks on northwest rocky islet; both terns and gulls on nests with eggs and/or chicks on northwest rocky islet; efforts continue to dissuade Caspian terns from nesting or roosting on Goose Island using a laser during crepuscular periods; no egg laying by Caspian terns was observed on Goose Island this past week
6/16 – 6/22/14 ›
High counts during the week of 244 nesting Caspian terns, 266 attended Caspian tern nests, and 223 Caspian tern chicks on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; Caspian terns on nests with eggs and/or chicks; the incipient Caspian tern satellite colony that formed on the upper cove beach at Crescent Island in early May was abandoned this week; also observed on the island were ca. 1,721 California gulls (about 902 attended nests) and 125 ring-billed gulls (about 4 attended nests); black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons are also nesting on island
6/16 – 6/22/14 ›
Twenty-five of 28 Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island-Potholes Reservoir this April continued to transmit fixes of their locations on the landscape; three satellite tags have failed and apparently the Caspian terns that were carrying the tags were depredated; 9 of the 25 Caspian terns with functional satellite tags spent some or all of the week outside the Columbia Plateau region, including Grays Harbor, WA, the Salish Sea region, coastal California and Mexico from San Francisco Bay to the Colorado River Delta, the Gulf of California near Las Lisas (Sonora, Mexico), interior Oregon, interior California, and interior Mexico from the Klamath Basin to the Presa Alvaro Oberon Reservoir north of Cuidad Obergon (Sonora, Mexico); 15 of the 16 satellite-tagged terns that remained in the Columbia Plateau region visited Goose Island at least once this week; other colony sites visited in the Columbia Plateau region include Harper Island in Sprague Lake (3), Twinning Island in Banks Lake (2), and the Blalock Island complex on the mid-Columbia River (1); during the week 36% of satellite-tagged terns used the Snake or Columbia rivers for foraging, especially Wanapum Pool
6/22/14 ›
Survey of waterbird nesting islands in southern Banks Lake; 50 roosting Caspian terns and a minimum of ca. 1,625 nesting California gulls (with chicks) counted on Twinning Island; formerly initiated Caspian tern nests on Twinning Island have all apparently failed; a minimum of ca. 299 nesting ring-billed gulls (with chicks), ca. 140 nesting California gulls (with chicks), 12 nesting great blue herons (with chicks), and 2 roosting American white pelicans counted on Goose Island
6/20/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 62 American white pelicans counted on or near island
6/20/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 351 double-crested cormorants and at least 289 active cormorant nests (with chicks) counted; also observed on island were nesting great blue herons and nesting great egrets
6/19/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on the Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; 89 adult Caspian terns, 30 attended Caspian tern nests, and 2 Caspian tern chicks counted; Caspian terns were observed attending nests on two different small islands in the Blalock Islands group; also observed on the Blalock Islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting great egrets, nesting great blue herons, nesting Forster’s terns, roosting American white pelicans, roosting black-crowned night-herons, roosting double-crested cormorants, and roosting Bonaparte’s gulls
6/18/14 ›
Survey of waterbird nesting islands in Banks Lake; 47 nesting Caspian terns (12 attended nests, but no eggs or chicks observed) and a minimum of ca. 1,850 nesting California gulls (with chicks) counted on Twinning Island; a minimum of ca. 213 nesting ring-billed gulls (with chicks), ca. 223 nesting California gulls (with chicks), 12 nesting great blue herons (with chicks), 3 roosting Canada geese, one roosting double-crested cormorant, one roosting American white pelican, and one roosting black-crowned night-heron counted on Goose Island; 13 roosting Caspian terns and 2 nesting great blue herons (with chicks) counted on 4 rocky islands at the north end of Banks Lake
6/17/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Harper Island in Sprague Lake; a minimum of 25 Caspian terns and 8 attended Caspian tern nests (eggs or chicks not confirmed) counted on island; also observed on island were ca. 2,000 nesting ring-billed gulls (with chicks), ca. 395 nesting California gulls (with chicks), 290 nesting double-crested cormorants (about 130 attended nests with chicks), 11 roosting black-crowned night-herons, and one roosting great blue heron
WEEKLY Update for 6/9 – 6/15/2014
6/9 – 6/15/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 5,832 nesting gulls (about 75% ring-billed gulls) and 41 Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns are nesting amongst nesting gulls on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high counts during the week of 188 adult Caspian terns, 109 attended tern nests, and 50 tern chicks on northwest rocky islet; both terns and gulls on nests with eggs and/or chicks on northwest rocky islet; efforts continue to dissuade Caspian terns from nesting or roosting on Goose Island using a laser during crepuscular periods; despite these efforts one Caspian tern egg was laid near the waterline on the south-facing slope of Goose Island; the tern egg was subsequently collected (under permit) without causing any gull nest failure; in total, 3 Caspian tern eggs have been laid and subsequently collected on the south-facing slope of Goose Island
6/9 – 6/15/14 ›
High counts during the week of 515 adult Caspian terns, 377 attended tern nests, and 291 tern chicks on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; Caspian terns on nests with eggs and/or chicks; the incipient Caspian tern satellite colony that formed on the upper cove beach at Crescent Island several weeks ago was still active, with 2 adult Caspian terns, 2 attended tern nests, and 3 tern chicks counted near the water’s edge; also observed on the island were ca. 1,965 California gulls (about 900 attended nests) and 27 ring-billed gulls (about 4 attended nests); black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons are also nesting on island
6/9 – 6/15/14 ›
105 steelhead smolts and 32 yearling Chinook salmon smolts were PIT-tagged at Rock Island Dam on the mid-Columbia River this week to investigate avian predation on juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon from the Upper Columbia populations; this brings the total numbers of steelhead smolts and yearling Chinook smolts PIT-tagged and released this season to 7,662 and 5,450, respectively; this completes our PIT–tagging efforts at Rock Island Dam in 2014
6/9 – 6/15/14 ›
Twenty-six of 28 Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island-Potholes Reservoir this April continued to transmit fixes of their locations on the landscape; two satellite tags failed and apparently the Caspian terns that were carrying the tags were depredated; 8 of the 26 Caspian terns with functional satellite tags spent some or all of the week outside the Columbia Plateau region, including Grays Harbor, WA; the Salish Sea region of Washington and southern British Columbia; coastal California and Mexico from San Francisco Bay to the Colorado River Delta and the Gulf of California near Las Lisas (Sonora, Mexico); and interior Oregon and California from the Klamath Basin to the Salton Sea; 12 of the satellite-tagged terns that remained in the Columbia Plateau region visited Goose Island at least once this week; other colony sites visited in the Columbia Plateau region include Harper Island in Sprague Lake (4), Twinning Island in Banks Lake (2), and Crescent Island on the mid-Columbia River (1); during the week 38% of satellite-tagged terns used the Snake or Columbia rivers for foraging, especially Priest Rapids pool and Wanapum pool, plus the Snake River from Lower Monumental Dam to above Lower Granite Dam
6/11/14 ›
Survey of waterbird nesting islands in Banks Lake; 77 Caspian terns (5 attended nests) and a minimum of ca. 1,700 nesting California gulls counted on Twinning Island; a minimum of ca. 340 nesting ring-billed gulls, ca. 343 nesting California gulls, 5 nesting great blue herons, and one roosting double-crested cormorant counted on Goose Island; 15 roosting Caspian terns and 5 nesting great blue herons (with chicks) counted on 4 rocky islands at the north end of Banks Lake
6/11/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Miller Rocks, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of ca. 2,210 California gulls (923 attended nests) and 102 ring-billed gulls (2 attended nests) counted
6/11/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on the Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; 88 adult Caspian terns, 36 attended tern nests, and 2 tern chicks counted; Caspian terns were observed attending nests on two different small islands in the Blalock Islands group; also observed on the Blalock Islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting great egrets, nesting great blue herons, nesting Forster’s terns, roosting American white pelicans, roosting black-crowned night-herons, and roosting Franklin’s gulls
6/10/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 52 American white pelicans counted on or near island
6/10/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 367 double-crested cormorants and at least 328 active cormorant nests (many with chicks) counted; also observed on island were nesting great blue herons, nesting great egrets, roosting American white pelicans, and roosting gulls (both ring-billed and California)
WEEKLY Update for 6/2 – 6/8/2014
6/2 – 6/8/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 5,430 nesting gulls (about 75% ring-billed gulls) and 36 Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns are nesting amongst nesting gulls on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 212 Caspian terns and 110 attended Caspian tern nests on northwest rocky islet; both terns and gulls on nests with eggs and/or chicks on northwest rocky islet; efforts to dissuade Caspian terns from nesting or roosting on Goose Island using a laser during crepuscular periods continue; despite these efforts one Caspian tern egg was laid near the waterline on the south-facing slope of Goose Island; the tern egg was subsequently collected (under permit) without causing any gull nest failure
6/2 – 6/8/14 ›
High count during the week of 519 Caspian terns and 412 attended Caspian tern nests on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; Caspian terns on nests with eggs and/or chicks; the incipient Caspian tern satellite colony that formed on the upper cove beach at Crescent Island several weeks ago was still active, with 3 nesting Caspian terns and 2 attended nests counted near the water’s edge; also observed on the island were ca. 2,500 California gulls (about 1,080 attended nests) and 127 ring-billed gulls (about 28 attended nests); black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons are also nesting on island
6/2 – 6/8/14 ›
276 steelhead smolts and 148 yearling Chinook salmon smolts were PIT-tagged at Rock Island Dam on the mid-Columbia River this week to investigate avian predation on juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon from the Upper Columbia populations; this brings the total numbers of steelhead smolts and yearling Chinook smolts PIT-tagged and released so far this season to 7,557 and 5,418, respectively
6/2 – 6/8/14 ›
Twenty-seven of 28 Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island-Potholes Reservoir this April continued to transmit fixes of their locations on the landscape; one satellite tag failed and apparently the Caspian tern that was carrying the tag was depredated; 10 of the 27 Caspian terns with functional satellite tags spent some or all of the week outside the Columbia Plateau region: one at the Salton Sea in southern California, three in the Upper Klamath Basin of northeastern California, one at Malheur Lake (eastern Oregon), four in Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia, and three in Willapa Bay, the Columbia River estuary, and Arcata (CA) along the outer coast; most satellite-tagged Caspian terns were detected in the Columbia Plateau region this week; eight of the satellite-tagged terns that remained in the Columbia Plateau region visited Goose Island at least once this week; most have been tracked to the vicinity of one or more current or previously used other colony sites, including Crescent Island on the mid-Columbia River (1), Blalock Islands on the mid-Columbia River (1), Twinning Island in Banks Lake (3), and Harper Island in Sprague Lake (3); during the week 37% of satellite-tagged terns used the Snake or Columbia rivers for foraging, especially John Day, Priest Rapids, and Wanapum pools
6/6/14 ›
Survey of White Bluff area, Island A, and area below Locke Island in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River looking for incipient Caspian tern colonies; no nesting Caspian terns observed
6/5/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 33 American white pelicans counted on or near island
6/5/14 ›
Survey of waterbird nesting islands in southern Banks Lake; 78 Caspian terns (20 attended nests) and a minimum of ca. 1,870 nesting California gulls counted on Twinning Island; a minimum of ca. 770 nesting ring-billed gulls, ca. 400 nesting California gulls, 9 nesting great blue herons, 4 roosting double-crested cormorants, and one roosting Caspian tern counted on Goose Island
6/5/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Harper Island in Sprague Lake; a minimum count of 82 Caspian terns observed on island; some tern breeding behavior observed, but attended tern nests could be confirmed from boat-based surveys; also observed on island were ca. 2,500 nesting ring-billed gulls, ca. 1,060 nesting California gulls, 425 double-crested cormorants (about 130 attended nests), and 12 roosting American white pelicans
6/5/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on island in Lake Lenore; a minimum of 150 nesting gulls (species undetermined) and one nesting double-crested cormorant counted; also observed on island were two roosting Caspian terns and 11 roosting double-crested cormorants
6/4/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 412 double-crested cormorants and at least 339 active cormorant nests (many with chicks) counted; also observed on island were nesting great blue herons, nesting great egrets, roosting American white pelicans, roosting Caspian terns, roosting California gulls, and roosting double-crested cormorants
6/4/14 ›
Survey of Crescent Bar and Vantage areas (Wanapum Pool), Cabin Island (Priest Rapids Pool), Ancient Lakes area (Quincy Basin), the Desert Wildlife Area (Quincy Basin), Frenchman Ponds (Quincy Basin), and Scooteney Reservoir looking for incipient Caspian tern colonies; no nesting Caspian terns were observed
6/2/14 ›
Survey of waterbirds nesting on the Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; 129 Caspian terns and 27 attended Caspian tern nests counted; Caspian terns were observed attending nests on two different small islands in the Blalock Islands group; also observed on the islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting great egrets, nesting great blue herons, nesting Forster’s terns, roosting American white pelicans, roosting black-crowned night-herons, roosting Bonaparte’s gulls, and roosting Franklin’s gulls
WEEKLY Update for 5/26 – 6/1/2014
5/26 – 6/1/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 5,600 nesting gulls (about 75% ring-billed gulls) and 69 Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns nesting amongst nesting gulls on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 205 Caspian terns and 111 attended tern nests; both terns and gulls on nests with eggs and chicks on northwest rocks; use of laser to haze terns on south-facing slope of Goose Island during crepuscular periods has been successful so far in preventing tern nesting on the island; three tern scrapes (no eggs) were observed on Goose Island on 5/28 after severe weather delayed laser hazing
5/26 – 6/1/14 ›
High count during the week of 687 Caspian terns and 461 attended tern nests on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; terns on nests with eggs and chicks; the incipient satellite tern colony that formed on upper cove beach at Crescent Island several weeks ago was still active, with up to 4 attended nests with eggs counted near the water’s edge; however, two tern nests were inundated from rising water levels by the end of the week; also observed on island were ca. 2,190 California gulls (about 1,061 attended nests) and 162 ring-billed gulls (about 30 attended nests); black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons are also nesting on island
5/26 – 6/1/14 ›
925 steelhead and 666 yearling Chinook salmon smolts were PIT-tagged at Rock Island Dam on mid-Columbia River this week to investigate avian predation on juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon from the Upper Columbia populations; this brings the total numbers of steelhead smolts and yearling Chinook smolts PIT-tagged and released so far this season to 7,281 and 5,270, respectively
5/26 – 6/1/14 ›
Although most Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir were detected in the Columbia Plateau region this past week, the number of tagged terns that have been detected beyond the Columbia Plateau region continued to increase, and some tagged terns traveled greater distances than previously; of the satellite-tagged terns that remained in the Columbia Plateau region, most have been tracked to the vicinity of one or more current or previously used colony sites, including Goose Island in Potholes Reservoir (9; 4 of which visited no other colony location), Crescent Island on the mid-Columbia River (2), Blalock Islands on the mid-Columbia River (5), Twinning Island in Banks Lake (6), and Harper Island in Sprague Lake (5); 13 tagged terns were detected at various sites outside the Columbia Plateau region, including sites along the Washington and southern British Columbia coasts, interior British Columbia, central California, the Harney Basin near Malheur Lake, sites in the upper Klamath Basin, at the Sheepy Lake tern island, and at the East Sand Island tern colony; nesting by satellite-tagged terns is confirmed or suspected at the northwest rocky islet near Goose Island (Potholes Reservoir), Twinning Island (Banks Lake), Crescent Island (mid-Columbia River), and the Blalock Islands (mid-Columbia River)
5/30/14 ›
Curt Dotson and Chuck Berrie (GCPUD) visited Goose Island tern colony in Potholes Reservoir
5/29/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 402 double-crested cormorants and at least 385 active cormorant nests (many with chicks) counted; also observed on island were nesting great blue herons, nesting great egrets, roosting American white pelicans, roosting Caspian terns, and roosting gulls
5/29/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 64 American white pelicans counted on or near island
5/29/14 ›
Waterbird survey of nesting islands in southern Banks Lake; 86 Caspian terns (34 attended nests) and a minimum of ca. 1,500 nesting California gulls counted on Twinning Island; a minimum of ca. 425 nesting ring-billed gulls, ca. 226 nesting California gulls, and 5 nesting great blue herons counted on Goose Island
5/29/14 ›
Waterbird survey of nesting island in Lake Lenore; a minimum of 100 nesting ring-billed gulls, 30 nesting California gulls, one nesting double-crested cormorant counted; also observed on island were two roosting Caspian terns
5/28/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Harper Island in Sprague Lake; a minimum count of 63 Caspian terns observed on island; some tern breeding behavior observed, but attended tern nests cannot be confirmed from boat-based surveys; also observed on island were ca. 2,230 nesting ring-billed gulls, ca. 1,730 nesting California gulls, 414 nesting double-crested cormorants; great blue herons also nesting on island (no count)
5/28/14 ›
Survey of Crescent Bar and Vantage areas (Wanapum Pool), Cabin Island (Priest Rapids Pool), and White Bluff area (Hanford Reach) looking for potential incipient Caspian tern colonies; no nesting Caspian terns were observed
5/27/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; 212 Caspian terns and 35 attended tern nests counted; Caspian terns were observed attending nests on three different small islands in the Blalock Islands group; also observed on the islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting great egrets, nesting great blue herons, roosting American white pelicans, roosting double-crested cormorants, and roosting Forster’s terns
WEEKLY Update for 5/19 – 5/25/2014
5/19 – 5/25/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 6,500 nesting gulls (about 75% ring-billed gulls) and 44 roosting Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns nesting amongst nesting gulls on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 262 Caspian terns and 158 attended tern nests; both terns and gulls on nests with eggs and chicks on northwest rocks; active gull hazing (human walkthroughs) on Goose Island at dusk was discontinued on 4/19 to avoid gull egg take associated with disturbance; use of laser to haze terns on south-facing slope of Goose Island during crepuscular periods has been successful in preventing tern nesting on the island; evidence of predation by a great horned owl observed at the Goose Island colony this past week; two fledgling great horned owls observed in trees near the MarDon Resort
5/19 – 5/25/14 ›
High count during the week of 820 Caspian terns and 477 attended tern nests on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; terns on nests with eggs and chicks; one tern previously satellite-tagged on Goose Island was re-sighted on Crescent Island colony, attending a nest with two eggs; the incipient satellite tern colony that formed on upper cove beach at Crescent Island several weeks ago was still active, with up to 4 attended nests with eggs counted near the water’s edge; also observed on island were ca. 2,115 California gulls (1,075 attended nests) and 188 ring-billed gulls (71 attended nests); black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons also nesting on island
5/19 – 5/25/14 ›
2,432 steelhead and 944 yearling Chinook salmon smolts were PIT-tagged at Rock Island Dam on mid-Columbia River this week to investigate avian predation on juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon from the Upper Columbia populations; this brings the total numbers of steelhead smolts and yearling Chinook smolts PIT-tagged and released so far this season to 6,360 and 4,604, respectively
5/19 – 5/25/14 ›
Although most Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir remained in the Columbia Plateau region this past week, there continues to be movements of tagged terns to locations outside the region; of the satellite-tagged terns that remained in the Columbia Plateau region, most have been tracked to the vicinity of one or more current or previously used colony sites, including Goose Island in Potholes Reservoir (13; 5 of which visited no other colony location), Crescent Island on the mid-Columbia River (1), Blalock Islands on the mid-Columbia River (5), Twinning Island in Banks Lake (7), and Harper Island in Sprague Lake (4); 7 tagged terns were detected at various sites outside the Columbia Plateau region, including at sites along the Washington and southern British Columbia coasts, sites in the upper Klamath Basin, at the Sheepy Lake tern island, and at the East Sand Island tern colony; nesting by satellite-tagged terns is confirmed or suspected at the northwest rocky islet near Goose Island (Potholes Reservoir), Twinning Island (Banks Lake), Crescent Island (mid-Columbia River), and the Blalock Islands (mid-Columbia River)
5/23/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 80 American white pelicans counted on or near island; also observed roosting on the exposed mudflats at the downstream end of island were 25 gulls
5/21/14 ›
First Caspian tern chick observed on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir
5/21/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Miller Rocks, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of ca. 2,200 California gulls (1,250 attended nests) and 41 ring-billed gulls (17 attended nests) counted
5/21/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; 226 Caspian terns and 23 attended tern nests counted; Caspian terns were observed attending nests on three different small islands in the Blalock Islands group; also observed on the islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting Forster’s terns (on Rock Island), nesting great egrets, nesting great blue herons, roosting American white pelicans, and a roosting Bonaparte’s gull
5/21/14 ›
Waterbird survey of nesting islands in southern Banks Lake; 99 Caspian terns (29 attended nests) and a minimum of ca. 1,950 nesting California gulls counted on Twinning Island; a minimum of ca. 520 nesting ring-billed gulls, ca. 190 nesting California gulls, and 7 nesting great blue herons counted on Goose Island
5/21/14 ›
Survey of Okanogan double-crested cormorant colony; 35 adult double-crested cormorants and 17 attended cormorant nests with chicks counted; great blue herons were nesting nearby
5/20/14 ›
Aerial photo census to estimate numbers of piscivorous colonial waterbirds (i.e., Caspian terns, gulls spp., American white pelicans) nesting at colonies on Miller Rocks, Blalock Islands, Crescent Island, Badger Island, and Island 20 in the mid-Columbia River, and Goose Island in Potholes Reservoir; counts of aerial photography will allow us to more accurately estimate the number of nesting piscivorous waterbirds and the area of nesting habitat used at each of these colonies
5/19/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 418 double-crested cormorants and at least 358 active cormorant nests (many with chicks) counted; also observed on island were nesting great blue herons, nesting great egrets, roosting American white pelicans, and roosting Caspian terns
WEEKLY Update for 5/12 – 5/18/2014
5/12 – 5/18/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 4,725 nesting gulls (about 75% ring-billed gulls) and 68 roosting Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns nesting amongst nesting gulls on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 298 Caspian terns and 102 attended tern nests; both terns and gulls on nests with eggs on northwest rocks; frequent disturbance to birds on the northwest rocks observed, primarily caused by recreational boaters/fishers approaching the island too closely; active gull hazing (human walkthroughs) on Goose Island at dusk was discontinued on 4/19 to avoid gull egg take associated with disturbance; use of laser to haze terns on south-facing slope of Goose Island during crepuscular periods has been successful in preventing tern nesting on the island
5/12 – 5/18/14 ›
High count during the week of 795 Caspian terns and 447 attended tern nests on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; the incipient satellite tern colony that formed on upper cove beach at Crescent Island the previous week was still active, with up to 17 Caspian terns and 4 attended nests counted; tern nesting behaviors were observed but egg laying at the satellite colony has not been confirmed; two terns previously satellite-tagged on Goose Island were re-sighted on Crescent Island colony, one attending a nest with one egg; also observed on island were ca. 2,530 California gulls (1,087 attended nests) and 230 ring-billed gulls (154 attended nests); black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons also nesting on island
5/12 – 5/18/14 ›
2,204 steelhead and 997 yearling Chinook salmon smolts were PIT-tagged at Rock Island Dam on mid-Columbia River this week to investigate avian predation on juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon from the Upper Columbia populations; this brings the total numbers of steelhead smolts and yearling Chinook smolts PIT-tagged and released so far this season to 3,930 and 3,663, respectively
5/12 – 5/18/14 ›
Although most Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir remained in the Columbia Plateau region this past week, there has been an increased number of tagged terns detected at locations outside the region; of the satellite-tagged terns that remained in the Columbia Plateau region, most have been tracked to the vicinity of one or more current or previously used colony sites, including Goose Island in Potholes Reservoir (20; 7 of which visited no other colony location), Crescent Island on the mid-Columbia River (3), Blalock Islands on the mid-Columbia River (4), Twinning Island in Banks Lake (5), and Harper Island in Sprague Lake (3); 7 tagged terns (compared to just 4 tagged terns the previous week) were detected at various sites outside the Columbia Plateau region, including at sites along the Washington and southern British Columbia coasts (4), sites at or near Malheur Lake (1), and sites at or near Lowell Lake, Idaho (2); nesting by satellite-tagged terns is confirmed or suspected at the northwest rocky islet near Goose Island (2), Twinning Island (2), Crescent Island (1), and the Blalock Islands (1)
5/18 – 5/19/14 ›
Second aerial survey of mid-Columbia River, lower Snake River, and much of Columbia Plateau region looking for incipient and extant Caspian tern, double-crested cormorant, and gull (spp.) colonies; no new Caspian tern colonies detected; one new double-crested cormorant colony in Hanford Reach detected; so far this year two new double-crested cormorant colonies have been detected (the other was detected in northerneastern Potholes Reservoir during the first aerial survey)
5/14/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 104 American white pelicans counted on or near island; also observed roosting on the exposed mudflats at each end of island were 90 California gulls, 16 Caspian terns, and 2 double-crested cormorants
5/14/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 535 double-crested cormorants and at least 388 active cormorant nests (many with chicks) counted; also observed on island were nesting great blue herons, nesting black-crowned night-herons, and roosting American white pelicans
5/13/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; 140 Caspian terns and 17 attended tern nests counted; Caspian terns were observed attending nests on three different small islands in the Blalock Islands; also observed on islands were nesting California gulls (mostly on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (mostly on Straight Six Island), nesting Forster’s terns (on Rock Island), nesting black-crowned night-herons, nesting great egrets, nesting great blue herons, and roosting American white pelicans
5/12/14 ›
First Caspian tern chicks observed on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River
WEEKLY Update for 5/5 – 5/11/2014
5/5 – 5/11/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 3,650 nesting gulls (about 65% ring-billed gulls) and 40 roosting Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns nesting amongst nesting gulls on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 381 Caspian terns and 76 attended tern nests; both terns and gulls on nests with eggs on northwest rocks; frequent disturbance to birds on the northwest rocks observed, primarily caused by recreational boaters/fishers approaching the island too closely; active gull hazing (human walkthroughs) on Goose Island at dusk discontinued on 4/19 to avoid gull egg take associated with disturbance; use of laser to haze terns on south-facing slope of Goose Island during crepuscular periods has been successful so far in preventing tern nesting on the island
5/5 – 5/11/14 ›
High count during the week of 795 Caspian terns and 422 attended tern nests on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; incipient satellite tern colony formed on upper cove beach of Crescent Island, with up to 13 Caspian terns and 4 attended nest scrapes counted; tern nesting behaviors observed, but eggs have not yet been laid on satellite colony; only one tern previously satellite-tagged on Goose Island re-sighted on Crescent Island colony (3 last week); also observed on island were ca. 3,580 California gulls (1,125 attended nests) and 215 ring-billed gulls (41 attended nests); black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons also nesting on island
5/5 – 5/11/14 ›
1,155 yearling Chinook salmon smolts and 1,343 steelhead smolts were PIT-tagged at Rock Island Dam on mid-Columbia River this week to investigate avian predation on juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon from the Upper Columbia populations
5/5 – 5/11/14 ›
Most of the Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir remained in the Columbia Plateau region this past week; by week's end, 27 of the 28 satellite-tagged terns were detected at various colony locations in the Columbia Plateau region; of the satellite-tagged terns that remained in the Columbia Plateau region, most have been tracked to the vicinity of one or more current or previously used colony sites, including Goose Island in Potholes Reservoir (22; 16 of which visited no other colony location), Crescent Island on the mid-Columbia River (2), Blalock Islands on the mid-Columbia River (2), Twinning Island in Banks Lake (1), and Harper Island in Sprague Lake (1); there was less movement of individual satellite-tagged terns between colony sites in the Columbia Plateau region this week compared to previous weeks, presumably because these birds are beginning to commit to a particular nest site; this week there has been an increase in movements of satellite-tagged terns to locations outside the Columbia Plateau region, with 4 tagged birds (compared to just one tagged bird the previous week) detected at various out of basin sites, including a site along the Washington Coast near Bellingham (1) and interior sites near the Malheur Lake tern colony (2) and in the Deschutes River Basin in Central Oregon (1); two satellite-tagged terns (mated pair) that were confirmed to be on a nest with eggs on the northwest rocky islet near Goose Island the previous week have since abandoned their nest and have relocated to sites in interior Oregon at Warm Springs Reservoir and near Malheur Lake new tern island
5/7/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Harper Island in Sprague Lake; a minimum of ca. 1,000 nesting California gulls, ca. 1,000 nesting ring-billed gulls, 220 nesting double-crested cormorants, and 2 roosting Caspian terns counted; great blue herons also nesting on island (no count)
5/7/14 ›
Waterbird survey of nesting islands in southern Banks Lake; 18 nesting Caspian terns (3 attended nests) and a minimum of ca. 750 nesting California gulls counted on Twinning Island; a minimum of ca. 600 nesting ring-billed gulls, ca. 200 nesting California gulls, and 12 nesting great blue herons counted on Goose Island
5/7/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Miller Rocks, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of ca. 2,425 California gulls (514 attended nests) and 78 ring-billed gulls (3 attended nests) counted
5/7/14 ›
First visit to Three Mile Canyon Island in the mid-Columbia River by project staff in 2014; no piscivorous waterbirds observed on island
5/6/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 174 American white pelicans counted on or near island
5/6/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 657 double-crested cormorants and at least 352 active cormorant nests (some with chicks) counted; also observed on island were nesting great blue herons, nesting black-crowned night-herons, and roosting American white pelicans
WEEKLY Update for 4/28 – 5/4/2014
4/28 – 5/4/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 4,870 nesting gulls (about 65% ring-billed gulls) and 37 roosting Caspian terns (near shoreline) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns nesting on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of 292 Caspian terns and 22 attended tern nests with eggs on northwest rocks; Caspian terns nesting on northwest rocks will not be hazed in 2014; active gull hazing (human walkthroughs) on Goose Island at dusk was discontinued on 4/19 to avoid gull egg take associated with the disturbance; use of laser to haze terns on south-facing slope of Goose Island during crepuscular periods has been successful to prevent tern nesting on the island
4/28 – 5/4/14 ›
High count during the week of 787 Caspian terns and 368 attended tern nests on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; three terns previously satellite-tagged on Goose Island re-sighted on Crescent Island colony, all exhibiting pre-nesting behaviors; also observed on island were ca. 3,350 California gulls (740 attended nests) and 103 ring-billed gulls (18 attended nests); black-crowned night-herons, great egrets, and great blue herons also nesting on island
4/28 – 5/4/14 ›
751 yearling Chinook salmon smolts and 219 steelhead smolts PIT-tagged at Rock Island Dam on mid-Columbia River this week to investigate avian predation on juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon from the Upper Columbia populations
4/28 – 5/4/14 ›
Most of the Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir remained in the Columbia Plateau region this past week; by week's end, 27 of the satellite-tagged terns were detected at various locations in the Columbia Plateau region and one satellite-tagged tern was detected in Puget Sound near Bellingham, WA (this bird also visited Smith and Minor islands in the Puget Sound area); of the satellite-tagged terns that remained in the Columbia Plateau region, most have been tracked to the vicinity of one or more previously used colony sites in the region, including Goose Island in Potholes Reservoir (24; 15 of which did not visit any other nesting colony), Crescent Island on the mid-Columbia River (5), Blalock Islands on the mid-Columbia River (3), Twinning Island in Banks Lake (1), and Harper Island in Sprague Lake (1); two of the satellite-tagged terns were confirmed to be on nests with eggs on the northwest rocks adjacent Goose Island, and others are suspected to be nesting on the northwest rocks, Crescent Island, and the Blalock islands
4/30/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Blalock Island Complex in mid-Columbia River; 50 roosting Caspian terns counted; also observed on islands were nesting California gulls (on Anvil Island), nesting ring-billed gulls (on Straight Six Island), nesting black-crowned night-herons, nesting great egrets, nesting great blue herons, roosting American white pelicans, and roosting Forester’s terns
4/29/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; 221 American white pelicans counted on or near island
4/29/14 ›
Waterbird survey of Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 550 double-crested cormorants and at least 310 active cormorant nests present; also observed on island were nesting great blue herons, nesting black-crowned night-herons, and roosting American white pelicans
4/29/14 ›
David Trachtenbarg (USACE), Gary Fredricks (NOAA Fisheries), and Lamont Glass (USFWS) visited Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River
WEEKLY Update for 4/21 – 4/27/2014
4/21 – 4/27/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 3,250 gulls (about 65% ring-billed gulls) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns regularly seen roosting on small rocky islet just offshore to northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of Caspian terns on or near Goose Island was 299; Caspian terns observed on the south slope of Goose Island (high count of 94 terns) and on small rocky islands just offshore (high count of 299 terns); active gull hazing (human walkthroughs) at dusk was discontinued on 4/19 to avoid gull egg take associated with the disturbance; use of laser to haze terns on south-facing slope of Goose Island during crepuscular periods continued in order to prevent nesting by terns
4/21 – 4/27/14 ›
High count during the week of 581 Caspian terns and 266 attended nests on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; counts of other piscivorous waterbirds on Crescent Island not available
4/21 – 4/27/14 ›
531 yearling Chinook salmon smolts and 111 steelhead smolts PIT-tagged at Rock Island Dam on mid-Columbia River this week to investigate avian predation on juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon from the Upper Columbia populations
4/21 – 4/27/14 ›
Most of the Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir remained in the Columbia Plateau region this past week; by week's end, 27 of the satellite-tagged terns were detected at various locations in the Columbia Plateau region and one satellite-tagged tern was detected in Puget Sound near Bellingham, WA; of the satellite-tagged terns that remained in the Columbia Plateau region, most have been tracked to one or more previously used colony sites in the region, including Goose Island in Potholes Reservoir (25), Crescent Island on the mid-Columbia River (7), Blalock Islands on the mid-Columbia River (6), Twinning Island in Banks Lake (1), and Harper Island in Sprague Lake (1); additionally two satellite-tagged terns were frequently visiting sandy islands in the northeastern portion of Potholes Reservoir; boat-based survey of northeastern Potholes Reservoir on 4/23 revealed 17 Caspian terns roosting on a small mud flat, no nesting activity observed
4/25 – 4/26/14 ›
Aerial survey of mid-Columbia River, lower Snake River, and much of Columbia Plateau region to check the status of known Caspian tern, double-crested cormorant, and gull colonies; checked sites of formerly active colonies of piscivorous waterbirds to determine occupancy; no new Caspian tern colonies detected; one new double-crested cormorant colony (in northeastern Potholes Reservoir) observed; ca. 35 cormorant nests counted
4/23/14 ›
First Caspian tern egg observed on small rocky islet just offshore and northwest of Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; by week’s end (4/27) there were at least 3 Caspian tern nest containing eggs on the northwest rocky islet off Goose Island
4/22/14 ›
First Caspian tern egg observed on south-facing slope of Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; egg collected under permit
WEEKLY Update for 4/14 – 4/20/2014
4/14 – 4/20/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 3,750 gulls (about 65% ring-billed) and 183 gull nests with eggs on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns regularly seen roosting on small rocky islet just northwest of Goose Island, high count during the week of terns on or near Goose Island was 119; Caspian terns beginning to set up nesting territories on the south slope of Goose Island near gull nests with eggs; active gull hazing (human walkthrough) at dusk was discontinued on 4/19 to avoid gull egg take associated with the disturbance; use of laser to haze terns on south-facing slope of Goose Island during crepuscular periods continued in order to prevent nesting by terns; crew members continue to spend night on island
4/14 – 4/20/14 ›
High count during the week of 552 Caspian terns and 127 attended nests on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; three terns previously satellite-tagged on Goose Island re-sighted on Crescent Island colony; also observed on island were ca. 2,500 California gulls, 21 ring-billed gulls, 8 black-crowned night-herons, 8 double-crested cormorants, 7 great egrets,
and 3 great blue herons
4/14 – 4/20/14 ›
186 yearling Chinook salmon smolts and 51 steelhead smolts PIT-tagged at Rock Island Dam on mid-Columbia River this week to investigate avian predation on juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon from the Upper Columbia populations
4/14 – 4/20/14 ›
Most of the Caspian terns that were satellite-tagged on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir remained in the Columbia Plateau region this past week; by week's end, 27 of the satellite-tagged terns were detected at various locations in the Columbia Plateau region and one satellite-tagged tern was detected in Puget Sound near Everett, WA; of the satellite-tagged terns that remained in the Columbia Plateau region, most have been tracked to one or more previous colony sites in the region, including Goose Island in Potholes Reservoir (21), Crescent Island on the mid-Columbia River (12), Blalock Islands on the mid-Columbia River (9), and Twinning Island in Banks Lake (1); additionally six satellite-tagged terns were frequently visiting sandy islands in the northeastern portion of Potholes Reservoir
4/20/14 ›
Complete waterbird survey of Blalock Island Complex in mid-Columbia River; 183 roosting Caspian terns counted; also observed on islands were ca. 5,000 nesting California gulls (on Anvil Island), ca. 4,000 nesting ring-billed gulls (on Straight Six Island), 10 roosting black-crowned night-herons, 9 roosting American white pelicans, 3 roosting great blue herons, and 3 roosting great egrets
4/16/14 ›
First visit to Island 20 in the mid-Columbia River by project staff in 2014; ca. 3,300 nesting California gulls, 9 nesting great egrets, 2 nesting great blue herons, and 16 roosting black-crowned night herons counted
4/16/14 ›
First visit to Miller Rocks in the mid-Columbia River by project staff in 2014; ca. 2,400 nesting gulls (mostly California gulls) and one roosting American white pelican counted
4/15/14 ›
First visit to Harper Island in Sprague Lake by project staff in 2014; ca. 850 nesting gulls and 98 nesting double-crested cormorants counted; no Caspian terns seen
4/15/14 ›
First visit to Twinning Island in Banks Lake by project staff in 2014; ca. 1,700 nesting gulls and 7 roosting Caspian terns counted
4/14/14 ›
Complete waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; 222 American white pelicans counted on or near island, all on the downstream subcolony
4/14/14 ›
Complete waterbird survey of Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 562 double-crested cormorants and at least 294 active cormorant nests present; also observed on island were 13 great blue herons (4 active nests) and 6 black-crowned night-herons (2 active nests)
4/14/14 ›
First Caspian tern eggs observed on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River
WEEKLY Update for 4/7 – 4/13/2014
4/7 – 4/13/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 2,500 gulls (about 65% ring-billed), 113 attended gull nests, and 15 gull nests with eggs on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns regularly seen roosting on small rocky islet just to northwest of Goose Island; high count during the week of terns on or near Goose Island was 100; active hazing at dusk continues to be effective, causing gulls to leave the island until just before dawn the next day; use of laser to haze gulls during crepuscular periods also effective; crew members continue to spend night on island
4/7 – 4/13/14 ›
High count during the week of 228 Caspian terns and 15 attended nests (no eggs) on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; two terns previously satellite-tagged on Goose Island re-sighted on Crescent Island colony; also observed on island were ca. 3,000 California gulls, 22 ring-billed gulls, 4 black-crowned night-herons, 2 great blue herons, 2 great egrets, and one double-crested cormorant
4/12/14 ›
Commencement of Chinook and steelhead smolt PIT-tagging at Rock Island Dam on mid-Columbia River to investigate avian predation on juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon from the threatened Upper Columbia populations; 44 spring Chinook salmon and 1 steelhead trout were PIT-tagged, condition scored, and released in first week of tagging
4/11/14 ›
Completed satellite-tagging of Caspian terns on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; satellite tagging of terns dissuaded from nesting on Goose Island will provide information on where terns relocate, both inside and outside the Columbia Plateau region; in total, 28 Caspian terns were satellite-tagged, with all 28 tags collecting and transmitting location data; all satellite-tagged terns that were opportunistically re-sighted by observers subsequent to release (7) appeared to be behaving normally; trapping materials removed from island and double-layer nest dissuasion materials (i.e., pier blocks, stakes, rope, and flagging) re-installed in tern capture area
4/9/14 ›
Complete waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; 298 American white pelicans counted on or near island, all on the downstream sub-colony
4/9/14 ›
Complete waterbird survey of Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 482 double-crested cormorants and at least 265 active cormorant nests present; also observed on island were 5 great blue herons (3 active nests) and 9 black-crowned night-herons
4/9/14 ›
First ring-billed gull egg observed on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; active hazing of nesting birds on Goose Island is restricted to areas without gull nests containing eggs to avoid gull egg loss due to disturbance, as per the Inland Avian Predation Management Plan Environmental Assessment
4/8/14 ›
Complete waterbird survey of Blalock Island Complex in mid-Columbia River; 13 roosting Caspian terns counted; also observed on islands were ca. 2,100 gulls (mostly ring-billed), 4 American white pelicans, and 2 great blue herons
4/8/14 ›
Boat-based survey of Wanapum Pool, mid-Columbia River; main objectives of survey were to (1) assess the availability of new nesting habitat for colonial waterbirds associated with the drawdown of Wanapum Pool, and (2) locate incipient piscivorous waterbird colonies and roost sites; three newly exposed islands observed, all seemed suitable for nesting colonial waterbirds; no major roosts or colony sites observed on these or any other islands in Wanapum Pool; piscivorous waterbirds observed during the survey were (listed in order of abundance from high to low): ring-billed gull, California gull, common merganser, common loon, double-crested cormorant, western grebe, great blue heron, eared grebe, pied-billed grebe, and Caspian tern (only one tern observed and it was previously satellite-tagged at Goose Island)
WEEKLY Update for 3/31 – 4/6/2014
3/31 – 4/6/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 2,700 gulls (about 70% ring-billed gulls) and 66 attended gull nests (no eggs) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; two juvenile bald eagles caused some disturbance to birds on the island; Caspian terns regularly seen roosting on small rocky island just offshore of Goose Island, high count during the week of 23 terns; active hazing at dusk continues to be effective, causing gulls to leave the island until just before dawn the next day; use of laser to haze gulls during crepuscular periods also effective; crew members continue to spend night on island
3/31 – 4/6/14 ›
High count during the week of 75 Caspian terns on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; pre-nesting behaviors (e.g., courtship, nest-scraping) observed; nesting gulls (both California and ring-billed), roosting double-crested cormorants (10), black-crowned night-herons, and great blue herons also observed on the island
4/4/14 ›
Complete waterbird survey of Badger Island, mid-Columbia River; 95 American white pelicans counted on or near island, all on the downstream subcolony
4/4/14 ›
Complete waterbird survey of Foundation Island, mid-Columbia River; a minimum of 288 double-crested cormorants, and at least 154 active cormorant nests present
4/2/14 ›
Small area of nest dissuasion materials removed and compressed air net launcher set up on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; net launcher will be used to capture Caspian terns roosting on the site in order to affix satellite tags on captured birds; satellite-tagging of terns dissuaded from nesting on Goose Island will provide information on where terns relocate, both inside and outside the Columbia Plateau region; four terns captured, 3 of which were satellite-tagged
WEEKLY Update for 3/24 – 3/30/2014
3/24 – 3/30/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 3,900 gulls (mostly ring-billed gulls) and 20 attended gull nests (no eggs) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; Caspian terns regularly seen roosting on small rocky islet to northeast of Goose Island; high count during the week of 12 Caspian terns; active hazing at dusk continues to be effective, causing gulls to leave the island until just before dawn the next day; use of laser to haze gulls during crepuscular periods also effective; crew members continue to spend night on island
3/26/14 ›
Completed preparations for monitoring Caspian tern colony on Crescent Island in mid-Columbia River
3/25/14 ›
Completed preparations for monitoring Caspian tern colony in the Blalock Islands in mid-Columbia River; gulls (mostly California gulls) present
3/25/14 ›
First visit to Badger Island American white pelican in the mid-Columbia River by project staff in 2014; 76 adults counted on upstream end of island
3/25/14 ›
First visit to Foundation Island double-crested cormorant colony in the mid-Columbia River by project staff in 2014; 334 adults and 172 attended nests counted
3/25/14 ›
First Caspian terns (40) observed on Crescent Island tern colony in mid-Columbia River; pre-nesting behaviors (e.g., courtship, nest-scraping) observed
WEEKLY Update for 3/17 – 3/23/2014
3/17 – 3/23/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 4,100 gulls (mostly ring-billed gulls) and 12 attended gull nests (no eggs) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; peregrine falcon continuing to cause gulls to repeatedly flush from the island; active hazing at dusk continues to be effective, causing gulls to leave the island until just before dawn the next day; use of laser to haze gulls during crepuscular periods also effective; additional 1 acre of nest dissuasion materials (i.e., pier blocks, stakes, rope, and flagging) erected on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; total acreage of dissuasion now about 2.35 acres; one-third of the area of dissuasion is double-layered, that part that is the most suitable tern nesting habitat
3/23/14 ›
First Caspian terns (7) observed on small rocky islands just offshore of Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir
3/22/14 ›
First Caspian terns (3) sighted in Potholes Reservoir by project staff in 2014; terns seen flying over Goose Island
3/18/14 ›
Crew begins spending night on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir so that gulls can be dissuaded just after dusk and just before dawn
WEEKLY Update for 3/10 – 3/16/2014
3/10 – 3/16/14 ›
High count during the week of ca. 3,000 gulls (mostly ring-billed) and 5 attended gull nests (no eggs) on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; peregrine falcon continuing to cause gulls to repeatedly flush from the island; effectiveness of daytime active gull hazing declining, with gulls returning to the island within seconds after they are flushed; active hazing at dusk more effective, with most gulls not returning to the island until just before dawn the next day
3/15/14 ›
Additional 0.3 acres of nest dissuasion materials (i.e., pier blocks, stakes, rope, and flagging) erected on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir (total acreage of dissuasion about 1.4 acres)
3/11/14 ›
Gull pre-nesting behaviors (e.g., copulation, nest building) observed at Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir
WEEKLY Update for 3/3 – 3/9/2014
3/9/14 ›
Peregrine falcon caused several colony-wide flushes of roosting gulls on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; falcon disturbances caused gulls to leave colony for extended periods of time
3/8/14 ›
Gulls becoming habituated to active human hazing activities on Goose Island, with most birds returning to the island within a minute following flushing; blind erected on Goose Island to be used as a staging area prior to forays into the colony to dissuade nesting gulls and capture Caspian terns for satellite-tagging
3/7/14 ›
Gulls beginning to roost in areas within the rope and flagging nest dissuasion areas on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; hundreds of gulls beginning to continuously use small rocky islet just northwest of Goose Island; flagging material on Goose Island beginning to fray and disintegrate due to wind, repaired by tying knots on the end of each strand
3/6/14 ›
Commenced daily active hazing of piscivorous colonial waterbirds attempting to nest on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; 585 gulls (mostly ring-billed gulls) were present on island prior to active hazing, no birds were on island following hazing
3/5/14 ›
First visit to colonial waterbird nesting islands in Banks and Sprague lakes; lakes frozen over, islands not visited
3/4/14 ›
First visit to Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir following placement of nest dissuasion materials; no gulls on Goose Island; 350 gulls in the water offshore and another 60 gulls were roosting on nearby rocky islet northeast of Goose Island
WEEKLY Update for 2/24 – 3/2/2014
2/28/14 ›
Completed installation of initial nest dissuasion materials (i.e., pier blocks, stakes, rope, and flagging) in areas on Goose Island determined to be highly suitable for nesting by Caspian terns (e.g., former colony site and surrounding area, areas other than the former colony area that were relatively flat and devoid of vegetation); total area covered by dissuasion materials estimated at 1.1 acres
2/25/14 ›
Caspian tern nest dissuasion materials and supplies delivered to Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir from mainland using Huey helicopter
2/24/14 ›
First visit to Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir; crew was accompanied by representatives of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Walla Walla District and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; placement of Caspian tern nest dissuasion materials, field camp, and observation blinds was discussed
Update for 2/12 – 2/23/2014
2/22/14 ›
Completed planting of willow stems on Crescent Island; willows were planted in test plots to evaluate planting success of cuttings from different locales and the effectiveness of different planting techniques
2/13/14 ›
Field crew met with representatives of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Walla Walla District to investigate willow stem collection sites on the Columbia Plateau; 90 willows cuttings were collected from Two Rivers Park for transplanting on Crescent Island; planting success of willow on Crescent Island will be evaluated during 2014 as a potential means to dissuade Caspian terns from nesting on the island in future years
2/12/14 ›
Seasonal field crew began work in Columbia Plateau region; crew met with representatives of funding agencies (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Walla Walla District, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Grant County Public Utility District) to discuss setup of Caspian tern nest dissuasion materials on Goose Island, Potholes Reservoir
