Weekly Update for 9/13 - 9/19/2010
9/14/10 ›
Last visit to the Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) in 2010; 55 adult Caspian terns and 46 tern fledglings observed, some of which had fledged from other colonies and are now loafing on the island; the exact number of fledglings produced at the Sheepy Lake tern colony is no yet known, but nesting success was very good at this incipient colony; this completes our weekly reporting of field research activities in Interior Oregon and Northeastern California for 2010
Weekly Update for 9/6 - 9/12/2010
9/6 – 9/12/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 61 adult Caspian terns and 33 tern chicks
9/9/10 ›
Completed construction of observation blind on the Orems Unit tern island (Lower Klamath Lake, OR); although no tern nesting occurred at this island in 2010, tern nesting is anticipated next breeding season; Jim Beal (USACE) led the construction effort
Weekly Update for 8/30 - 9/5/2010
8/30 – 9/5/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 36 adult Caspian terns and 77 tern chicks
8/30 – 9/2/10 ›
PIT tag recovery carried out at two nest sites (i.e., Clear Lake) and 11 loafing sites used by piscivorous waterbirds in the Klamath Basin; these PIT tag recoveries will be used to evaluate the impacts of piscivorous waterbirds on ESA-listed sucker populations in the basin
Weekly Update for 8/23 - 8/29/2010
8/23 - 8/29/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 188 adult Caspian terns and 109 tern chicks; ca. 60 Caspian tern chicks have successfully fledged from the colony so far this year; gulls have mostly left the island during the day but are still using the island as a nighttime roost
8/23 – 8/29/10 ›
Successfully downloaded data from all four Caspian terns tagged with GPS data loggers at the Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA); these tags were successful in providing data on off-colony movements and habitat use by nesting terns
8/28/10 ›
Last visit to the Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) in 2010; no Caspian terns or other piscivorous waterbirds observed; all Caspian tern nesting attempts failed at the Crump Lake tern island in 2010
8/28/10 ›
Last visit to the East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) in 2010; 3 adult Caspian terns and one ring-billed gull fledgling observed; two Caspian tern chicks successfully fledged from the colony in 2010
Weekly Update for 8/16 - 8/22/2010
8/16 - 8/22/10 ›
Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) was not visited this week; all Caspian tern nesting attempts have failed at the Crump Lake tern island in 2010
8/16 - 8/22/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 355 adult Caspian terns and 141 tern chicks; gulls have mostly left the island with only one California gull and 5 ring-billed gulls counted this week
8/16 - 8/22/10 ›
High counts on East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 30 adult Caspian terns and one tern chick (near fledging-age); also counted on the island were 14 ring-billed gulls (3 adults and 11 fledglings), 10 double-crested cormorants, and one long tailed Jaeger
8/21/10 ›
One juvenile sucker was observed in a bill load of a Caspian tern at the Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA); this is the fourth confirmed predation of possible ESA-listed suckers in the Klamath Basin by Caspian terns
8/19/10 ›
Last visit to the Dutchy Lake tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) in 2010; high counts on Dutchy Lake tern island of 5 Caspian terns, 47 killdeer, 3 ring-billed gulls, 23 double-crested cormorants, and one American white pelican; the reason for the lack of Caspian tern or other colonial waterbird nesting on Dutchy Lake tern island in 2010 is unknown
8/17/10 ›
131 Caspian tern chicks captured and banded at Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA); 4 adult Caspian terns captured and tagged with remotely downloadable GPS data loggers to test feasibility of using GPS tags to assess habitat use by nesting terns; John Beckstrand, Tracy Albro, and Miguel Jimenez with the USFWS assisted with chick banding
8/17/10 ›
First Caspian terns (2) believed to have fledged from East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area)
Weekly Update for 8/9 - 8/15/2010
8/9 - 8/15/10 ›
Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) has been mostly abandoned by nesting and loafing piscivorous waterbirds; due to heavy gull pressure and harsh weather conditions, all Caspian tern nesting attempts have failed at the Crump Lake tern island in 2010
8/9 - 8/15/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 336 Caspian terns (169 active nests and 170 chicks); large numbers of adult and fledgling ring-billed and California gulls remain on island
8/9 - 8/15/10 ›
High counts on East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 19 Caspian terns (3 active nests and 3 chicks near fledging-age), 113 ring-billed gulls (34 chicks), 47 California gulls (18 chicks), 44 double-crested cormorants (no nests), and one great blue heron (no nest)
8/9 - 8/15/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 5 Caspian terns (no nests), 35 killdeer, 4 ring-billed gulls (no nests), and one American white pelican (no nest); the reason for the lack of Caspian tern or other colonial waterbird nesting on Dutchy Lake tern island so far this season is unknown
8/11/10 ›
All nesting attempts by double-crested cormorants and American white pelicans on Pelican Island (Warner Valley, OR) have failed; great egrets and great blue herons were successful in rearing some young on the island
Weekly Update for 8/2 - 8/8/2010
8/2 - 8/8/10 ›
High count on Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) of 1 Caspian tern (no active nests with eggs or chicks), 406 ring-billed gulls (5 chicks), and 47 California gulls (13 chicks); due to heavy gull pressure and harsh weather conditions, all Caspian tern nesting has failed at the Crump Lake tern island in 2010
8/2 - 8/8/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 432 Caspian terns (184 active nests with eggs or chicks)
8/2 - 8/8/10 ›
High counts on East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 26 Caspian terns (4 active nests with eggs or chicks), 229 ring-billed gulls (86 chicks), 62 California gulls (17 chicks), 60 double-crested cormorants (no nests), and one American white pelican (no nest)
8/2 - 8/8/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 13 Caspian terns (no nests), 1 great egret (no nest), 3 ring-billed gulls (no nests), 11 American white pelicans (no nests), 33 double-crested cormorants (no nests), and 41 killdeer; the reason for the lack of Caspian tern or other colonial waterbird nesting on Dutchy Lake tern island so far this season is unknown
8/5/10 ›
One juvenile sucker was observed in a bill load of a Caspian tern at the Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA); this is the second confirmed predation of possible ESA-listed suckers in the Klamath Basin by Caspian terns
8/3 – 8/4/10 ›
Completed construction of observation blind on the Gold Dike tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR); although no tern nesting occurred at this island in 2010, tern nesting is anticipated next breeding season
8/2/10 ›
Twenty-three loafing Caspian terns observed at the Tule Lake (Sump 1B); nesting dissuasion (human disturbance) has been used in previous weeks to discourage nesting by Caspian terns on or near the Tule Lake tern island; island has been completely land-bridged, allowing easy access to the island by mammalian predators
Weekly Update for 7/26 – 8/1/2010
8/1/10 ›
High count on Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) of 36 Caspian terns (no active nests with eggs or chicks), 285 ring-billed gulls (0 nests, 14 chicks), 97 California gulls (0 nests, 19 chicks), and four double-crested cormorants (no nests); due to heavy gull pressure and harsh weather conditions, all Caspian tern nesting has failed at the Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) in 2010
7/26 – 8/1/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 376 Caspian terns (203 active nests with eggs or chicks), 575 ring-billed gulls (unknown number of nests), and 269 California gulls (unknown number of nests)
7/28/10 ›
High counts on East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 37 Caspian terns (4 active nests with eggs or chicks), 664 ring-billed gulls (unknown number of nests, 92 chicks), 135 California gulls (unknown number of nests, 53 chicks), 21 double-crested cormorants (no nests), and one American white pelican (no nest)
7/28/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 6 Caspian terns (no nests), 7 Forster’s terns (no nests), 5 ring-billed gulls (no nests), 15 American white pelicans (no nests), 25 double-crested cormorants (no nests), and 77 killdeer; the reason for the lack of Caspian tern or other colonial waterbird nesting on Dutchy Lake tern island so far this season is unknown
7/28/10 ›
First Caspian tern fledgling observed at Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA)
7/28/10 ›
One yellow-bellied marmot was removed (under permit) from the Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA)
Weekly Update for 7/19 - 7/25/2010
7/19 – 7/25/10 ›
High count on Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) of 71 Caspian terns (no active nests with eggs or chicks); gulls and other colonial waterbirds were also present on the island this past week but complete counts were not conducted; due to heavy gull pressure and harsh weather conditions, all nesting attempts by Caspian terns at the Crump Lake tern island have failed in 2010
7/19 – 7/25/10 ›
High counts on East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 17 Caspian terns (4 active nests with eggs or chicks), 714 ring-billed gulls (unknown number of nests), 114 California gulls (unknown number of nests), and 17 double-crested cormorants (no nests)
7/19 – 7/25/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 3 Caspian terns (no nests), 12 Forster’s terns (no nests), 5 ring-billed gulls (no nests), 33 American white pelicans (no nests), 52 double-crested cormorants (no nests); the reason for the lack of Caspian tern or other colonial waterbird nesting on Dutchy Lake tern island so far this season is unknown
7/19 – 7/25/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 362 Caspian terns (221 active nests with eggs or chicks), 656 ring-billed gulls (unknown number of nests), and 356 California gulls (unknown number of nests)
7/23/10 ›
Additional floating ramps constructed at the Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) to aid mobile chicks returning to the colony from the water
7/20/10 ›
Completed construction of observation blind on the Tule Lake (Sump 1B) tern island; although no tern nesting occurred at this island in 2010, tern nesting is anticipated next breeding season
Weekly Update for 7/12 - 7/18/2010
7/18/10 ›
One juvenile sucker was observed in a bill load of a Caspian tern at the Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA); this is the first confirmed predation of possible ESA-listed suckers in the Klamath Basin by Caspian terns
7/12 – 7/18/10 ›
High counts on Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) of 76 Caspian terns (no active nests with eggs or chicks), 937 ring-billed gulls (10 nests), 803 California gulls (16 nests), and four American white pelican (no nests); due to heavy gull pressure and harsh weather conditions, all Caspian tern nesting has failed at the Crump Lake tern island in 2010
7/12 – 7/18/10 ›
High counts on East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 17 Caspian terns (4 active nests with eggs or chicks), 760 ring-billed gulls (71 active nests), 102 California gulls (4 active nests), and 5 double-crested cormorants (no nests)
7/12 – 7/18/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 4 Caspian terns (no nests), 9 Forster’s tern (no nests), 3 ring-billed gulls (no nests), 30 American white pelicans (no nests), 59 double-crested cormorants (no nests), 5 California gulls (no nests), and two great blue heron (no nests); the reason for the lack of Caspian tern or other colonial waterbird nesting on Dutchy Lake tern island so far this season is unknown
7/12 – 7/18/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 395 Caspian terns (239 active nests with eggs or chicks), 1,045 ring-billed gulls (unknown number of nests), and 462 California gulls (unknown number of nests)
7/12 – 7/18/10 ›
Floating ramps constructed at the Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) to aid mobile chicks returning to the colony from the water
7/12 – 7/18/10 ›
Two Caspian terns that were banded and outfitted with GPS tags at East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) last week were observed loafing at the Williamson River Delta, approximately 70 miles from the East Link tern island; one of these tagged birds was subsequently observed at East Link tern island later in the week
7/16/10 ›
Jonathan Glenn and Bruce Chuchel (USGS) visited Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) to collect geophysical data
7/12/10 ›
Two California gulls that were repeatedly preying on Caspian tern eggs were shot (under permit) at the Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA)
Weekly Update for 7/5 - 7/11/2010
7/11/10 ›
Aerial survey of Interior Oregon and northeastern California to locate two Caspian terns tagged with remotely downloadable GPS data loggers (see below) and to estimate peak colony size at the Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA)
7/5 – 7/11/10 ›
High counts on Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) of 91 Caspian terns (7 active nests with eggs or chicks), 1,368 ring-billed gulls (22 nests), 703 California gulls (30 nests), 3 double-crested cormorants (no nests), and one American white pelican (no nest); there has been a decrease in the number of adult Caspian terns and number of active tern nests compared to last week
7/5 – 7/11/10 ›
High counts on East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 35 Caspian terns (4 active nests with eggs or chicks), 644 ring-billed gulls (74 active nests), 72 California gulls (9 active nests), and 29 double-crested cormorants (no nests); there has been a decrease in the number of adult Caspian terns and number of active tern nests compared to last week associated with an dramatic increase in gull depredation at the colony
7/5 – 7/11/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 18 Caspian terns (no nests), one Forster’s tern (no nest), 5 ring-billed gulls (no nests), 23 American white pelicans (no nests), one great egret (no nest), and one great blue heron (no nest); the reason for the lack of Caspian tern or other colonial waterbird nesting on Dutchy Lake tern island so far this season is unknown
7/5 – 7/11/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 452 Caspian terns (258 active nests with eggs or chicks), 1,121 ring-billed gulls (unknown number of nests), and 666 California gulls (unknown number of nests); Sheepy Lake tern colony appears to have reached its maximize size
7/5 – 7/11/10 ›
One California gull that was repeatedly preying on Caspian tern eggs was shot (under permit) at the Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA)
7/8/10 ›
Two Caspian terns captured and tagged with remotely downloadable GPS data loggers at East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) to test feasibility of using GPS tags to assess habitat use by nesting terns
7/8/10 ›
Six California gulls that were an observed or suspected threat to the tern colony were shot (under permit) at the East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR)
7/6/10 ›
One California gull that was repeatedly preying on Caspian tern eggs was shot (under permit) at the Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR)
7/5/10 ›
First Caspian tern chick observed at Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR)
Weekly Update for 6/28 - 7/4/2010
6/28 – 7/4/10 ›
High counts on Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) of 155 Caspian terns (15 active nests with eggs), 2,108 ring-billed gulls (138 nests), 1,206 California gulls (15 nests), 13 double-crested cormorants (no nests), and 15 American white pelicans (no nests), and 13 Franklin’s gulls (no nests); there has been a modest increase in the number of adult Caspian terns and a modest decrease in number of active tern nests compared to last week
6/28 – 7/4/10 ›
One ring-billed gull that was repeatedly preying on Caspian tern eggs were shot (under permit) at the Crump Lake tern island
6/28 – 7/4/10 ›
High counts on East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 38 Caspian terns (17 nests, 1 chick), 790 ring-billed gulls (118 nests, 253 chicks) and 65 California gulls (7 nests, 34 chicks)
6/28 – 7/4/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 15 Caspian terns (no nests), 31 Forster’s terns (no nests), 5 ring-billed gulls (no nests), 56 American white pelicans (no nests), and 52 double-crested cormorants (no nests); the reason for the lack of Caspian tern or other colonial waterbird nesting on Dutchy Lake tern island so far this season is unknown
6/28 – 7/4/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 494 Caspian terns (250 active nests; 239 nests with eggs and 11 nests with chicks), 1,357 ring-billed gulls (unknown number of nests with eggs or chicks), and 443 California gulls (unknown number of nests with eggs or chicks); this represents an increase in number of active tern nests on Sheepy Lake tern island for the third consecutive week
6/28 – 7/4/10 ›
High counts on Fern Ridge Reservoir tern island of 2 Caspian terns, 1 Forster’s tern, 1 ring-billed gull, 2 American white pelican, and 3 bald eagles; no pre-laying behaviors observed for any species roosting on island; the presence of bald eagles at the Fern Ridge Reservoir tern island may explain why Caspian terns and other colonial waterbirds have not initiated nesting there
7/3/10 ›
First Caspian tern chick observed at East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR)
Weekly Update for 6/21 - 6/27/2010
6/21 – 6/27/10 ›
High counts on Crump Lake tern island (Warner Valley, OR) of 132 Caspian terns (20 active nests with eggs), 630 ring-billed gulls (195 nests), 244 California gulls (39 nests), 7 double-crested cormorants (no nests), and one snowy egret (no nest); there has been a modest increase in Caspian tern use and number of active tern nests compared to last week
6/21 – 6/27/10 ›
Two California gulls that were repeatedly preying on Caspian tern eggs were shot (under permit) at the Crump Lake tern island
6/21 – 6/27/10 ›
High counts on East Link tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 26 Caspian terns (18 nests with eggs), 754 ring-billed gulls (158 nests, 159 chicks) and 74 California gulls (7 nests, 26 chicks); there has been a modest increase in the number of active Caspian tern nests compared to last week
6/21 – 6/27/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island (Summer Lake Wildlife Area, OR) of 2 Caspian terns (no nests), 5 Forster’s terns (no nests), 13 ring-billed gulls (no nests), 11 American white pelicans (no nests), and 79 double-crested cormorants (no nests); the reason for the lack of Caspian tern or other colonial waterbird nesting on Dutchy Lake tern island so far this season is unknown
6/21 – 6/27/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island (Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, CA) of 502 Caspian terns (202 active nests; 197 nests with eggs and five nests with chicks), 2,880 ring-billed gulls (unknown number of nests with eggs or chicks), 473 California gulls (unknown number of nests with eggs or chicks), and one Forster’s tern (no nest); this represents an large increase in number of Caspian terns and active tern nests on Sheepy Lake tern island for the second consecutive week
6/25/10 ›
Dave Mauser and John Beckstrand with the Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuges, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service visited the Sheepy Lake tern island
6/23/10 ›
Tule Lake tern island (Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, CA) has become completely land-bridged due to low water levels in Sump 1B; no Caspian terns observed on the island; nesting dissuasion (human disturbance) had been used in previous weeks to discourage nesting by Caspian terns on or near the Tule Lake tern island; nesting dissuasion is intended to encourage terns to nest elsewhere, such as Sheepy Lake tern island, where prospects for successful nesting are greater
Weekly Update for 6/14 - 6/20/2010
6/14 – 6/20/10 ›
High counts on Crump Lake tern island of 108 Caspian terns (16 active nests; two 2-egg nests and fourteen 1-egg nests), 1,161 ring-billed gulls (209 nests), and 483 California gulls (203 nests); 50% of gull nests contain 1-3 gull chicks
6/14 – 6/20/10 ›
Two California gulls that were repeatedly preying on Caspian tern eggs were shot (under permit) at the Crump Lake tern island
6/14 – 6/20/10 ›
High counts on East Link Pond tern island of 35 Caspian terns (12 nests with eggs), 1,112 ring-billed gulls (430 nests, 45 chicks), 86 California gulls (41 nests, 9 chicks), and 34 double-crested cormorants (no nests)
6/14 – 6/20/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island of 6 Caspian terns (no nests), 16 Forster’s terns (no nests), one ring-billed gull (no nest), 6 American white pelicans (no nests), one California gull (no nest), and 50 double-crested cormorants (no nests); one American white pelican found dead on the island on June 14, apparently due to starvation
6/14 – 6/20/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island of 412 Caspian terns (120 active nests; 118 nests with eggs and two nests with chicks), 1,349 ring-billed gulls (744 nests with eggs or chicks), 515 California gulls (151 nests with eggs or chicks), and 5 Forster’s terns (no nests); this represents a large increase in the number of Caspian terns and active tern nests counted on the Sheepy Lake tern island compared to last week
6/19/10 ›
Twelve roosting Caspian terns observed on the Tule Lake (Sump 1B) tern island; nesting dissuasion (human disturbance) has been used in previous weeks to discourage nesting by Caspian terns on or near the Tule Lake tern island; island has been effectively land-bridged with only a few meters of ankle-deep water separating it from the mainland, allowing easy access to the island by mammalian predators
6/15/10 ›
First Caspian tern chick observed on Sheepy Lake tern island
6/15/10 ›
Aerial survey of Interior Oregon and northeastern California to check the status of known Caspian tern, double-crested cormorant, American white pelican, and gull colonies; many of the historical colony sites are unoccupied this year, presumably due to drought, low water levels, and a cool late spring throughout region
Weekly Update for 6/7 - 6/13/2010
6/7 – 6/13/10 ›
High counts on Crump Lake tern island of 102 Caspian terns (14 new nests with eggs, 4 of which had failed by the end of the week due to depredation by gulls), 1,382 ring-billed gulls (726 nests), 246 California gulls (143 nests), 2 American white pelicans (no nests), one double-crested cormorant (no nest), and one Franklin’s gull (no nest); gull counts are minimums since gulls located in the riprap surrounding the island could not be counted due to boat problems
6/7 – 6/13/10 ›
High counts on East Link Pond tern island of 40 Caspian terns (2 nests with eggs), 851 ring-billed gulls (328 nests), 83 California gulls (54 nests), 14 double-crested cormorants (no nests), and one American white pelican (no nest)
6/7 – 6/13/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island of 32 Caspian terns (no nests with eggs), 42 Forster’s terns (no nests with eggs), 27 ring-billed gulls (no nests with eggs), 28 American white pelicans (no nests), one California gull (no nest with eggs), and 17 double-crested cormorants (no nests with eggs); Caspian terns observed digging nest scrapes on the island, suggesting that egg-laying may be imminent
6/7 – 6/13/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island of 181 Caspian terns (33 nests with eggs), 1,277 ring-billed gulls (number of nests with eggs unknown), and 551 California gulls (number of nests with eggs unknown)
6/12/10 ›
First California gull and ring-billed gull chicks observed on Sheepy Lake tern island
6/9/10 ›
One California gull that was repeatedly preying on Caspian tern eggs was shot (under permit) at the Crump Lake tern island
6/8 – 6/9/10 ›
No Caspian terns observed on the Tule Lake (Sump 1B) tern island; nesting dissuasion (human disturbance) has been used in previous weeks to discourage nesting by Caspian terns on or near the Tule Lake tern island; island expected to be land-bridged soon, providing access by mammalian predators; nesting dissuasion appears to be working in preventing terns from nesting on the island
Weekly Update for 5/31 - 6/6/2010
6/6/10 ›
Survey for Caspian terns in the Williamson River Delta; 68 Caspian terns observed loafing on three islands in Williamson River Delta; rising water levels in delta may soon render these islands unsuitable for tern nesting
5/31 – 6/6/10 ›
High counts on Crump Lake tern island of 70 Caspian terns (4 nests with eggs; all nests with eggs had failed by the end of the week due to depredation by gulls), 1,952 ring-billed gulls (655 nests), 952 California gulls (544 nests), 6 American white pelicans (no nests), and one double-crested cormorants (no nests); there has been a large influx of nesting gulls to the Crump Lake tern island this past week
5/31 – 6/6/10 ›
High counts on East Link Pond tern island of 26 Caspian terns (1 nest with eggs), 622 ring-billed gulls (316 nests), 84 California gulls (46 nests), and 62 double-crested cormorants (no nests)
5/31 – 6/6/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island of 4 Caspian terns (no nests with eggs), 35 double-crested cormorants (no nests with eggs), 19 Forster’s terns (no nests with eggs), 6 ring-billed gulls (no nests with eggs), and 25 American white pelicans (no nests); no pre-laying behaviors observed for any species roosting on island
5/31 – 6/6/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island of 164 Caspian terns (9 nests with eggs), 1,529 ring-billed gulls (number of nests with eggs unknown), and 840 California gulls (number of nests with eggs unknown)
5/31 – 6/6/10 ›
High count of 136 Caspian terns loafing on a mudflat near the Tule Lake (Sump 1B) tern island; nesting dissuasion (human disturbance) used to discourage nesting by Caspian terns on or near the Tule Lake tern island; island expected to be land-bridged soon, providing access by mammalian predators; nesting dissuasion appears to be working, as no nest scrapes with eggs have been found
5/31 – 6/6/10 ›
Four consecutive days of heavy rainfall in the Klamath Basin causing flooding of area creeks and streams
5/31 – 6/6/10 ›
A coyote observed on a levee roughly 200 meters from the East Link Pond tern island
6/4/10 ›
Strong winds (50 mph) at East Link Pond and Dutchy Lake tern islands at Summer Lake Wildlife Area
Weekly Update for 5/24 - 5/30/2010
5/30/10 ›
Survey for Caspian terns in the Williamson River Delta; 212 Caspian terns observed loafing on two islands in Williamson River Delta; nesting behaviors (i.e., courtship, copulation, nest scraping) observed at one of the two islands; rising water levels in delta may soon render these islands unsuitable for tern nesting
5/28 – 5/30/10 ›
High count of 48 Caspian terns loafing on Tule Lake (Sump 1B) tern island (up from previous week); nesting dissuasion (human disturbance) used four times to discourage nesting by Caspian terns on Tule Lake tern island; island expected to be land-bridged soon, providing access by mammalian predators; nesting dissuasion appears to be working, as no nest scrapes with eggs have been found
5/24 - 5/30/10 ›
High counts on Sheepy Lake tern island of 67 Caspian terns (6 nests with eggs), 1,339 ring-billed gulls (number of nests with eggs unknown), 791 California gulls (number of nests with eggs unknown), and 5 Forster’s terns (no nests)
5/24 - 5/30/10 ›
High counts on Crump Lake tern island of 47 Caspian terns (1 nest with egg), 1,282 ring-billed gulls (285 nests), 603 California gulls (303 nests), and 8 double-crested cormorants (no nests)
5/24 - 5/30/10 ›
High counts on East Link Pond tern island of 23 Caspian terns (4 nests with eggs), 574 ring-billed gulls (328 nests), 77 California gulls (61 nests), and 18 double-crested cormorants (no nests)
5/24 - 5/30/10 ›
High counts on Dutchy Lake tern island of 3 Caspian terns (no nests with eggs), 16 double-crested cormorants (no nests with eggs), 27 Forster’s terns (no nests with eggs), 5 ring-billed gulls (no nests with eggs), and 3 American white pelicans (no nests); no pre-laying behaviors observed for any species roosting on island
5/24 – 5/30/10 ›
Survey of foraging piscivorous waterbirds conducted in Upper Klamath Basin; foraging aggregations of piscivorous waterbirds (i.e., terns, pelicans, cormorants) observed in northern Upper Klamath Lake, Tule Lake Sump 1A, Iron Gate Reservoir, and on Klamath River about 2 km south of Lake Ewauna
5/28 - 5/29/10 ›
First Caspian tern egg observed on Crump Lake tern island on 28 May; tern egg was not present the next day, and presumed depredated by gulls; another tern nest with one egg observed on 29 May
5/28/10 ›
First California gull chick observed on Crump Lake tern island
5/28/10 ›
Surveys for foraging piscivorous waterbirds conducted in Goose Lake; 2 ring-billed gulls and 32 Forster’s terns observed on northeast shore of lake; no Caspian terns observed
5/28/10 ›
Survey for foraging piscivorous waterbirds conducted on Drews Reservoir, Dog Lake, and Lake Abert; only one Caspian tern observed along southern shore of Drews Reservoir, 3 American white pelicans observed at Dog Lake, and 30 ring-billed gulls observed at Lake Abert
5/26 – 5/27/10 ›
High counts on Fern Ridge Reservoir tern island of 4 Caspian terns (no nests) and 14 ring-billed gulls (no nests); no pre-laying behaviors observed for either species roosting on island
5/26 – 5/27/10 ›
Two dead Caspian tern adults seen on or near East Link tern island on 26 May; three bald eagles observed on a levee south of East Link Pond tern island on 27 May
5/27/10 ›
Teachers and students from Adel Middle School visited the Crump Lake tern island
5/27/10 ›
Survey for foraging piscivorous waterbirds conducted on Big Sage Reservoir; only three Caspian terns and one double-crested cormorant observed
5/25/10 ›
In an attempt to encourage nesting by double-crested cormorants, nesting tires painted white and audio playback system repaired on experimental cormorant social attraction nesting platform on Dutchy Lake, Summer Lake Wildlife Area
5/25/10 ›
Survey for foraging piscivorous waterbirds conducted on Thompson Reservoir; 13 Caspian terns, 10 double-crested cormorants, 7 Forster’s terns, 2 American white pelicans, and one ring-billed gull observed along shores of reservoir
Weekly Update for 5/17 - 5/23/2010
5/23/10 ›
Survey of foraging piscivorous waterbirds conducted in Upper Klamath Basin; foraging aggregations of piscivorous waterbirds (i.e., terns, pelicans, cormorants) observed in Tule Lake, Lost River, Copco Reservoir, and Upper Klamath Lake
5/17 -5/23/10 ›
Winter storm advisory in effect at Crump, Summer, and Sheepy lakes; unseasonable weather, including strong winds, rain, hail, snow, and overnight temperatures in the 20’s; weather has apparently delayed nesting by Caspian terns in the region
5/17 -5/23/10 ›
High count of 58 Caspian terns (up from previous week), 1,334 ring-billed gulls, 389 California gulls, and 20 Forster’s terns on Sheepy Lake tern island; Caspian terns and gulls have initiated egg-laying on island
5/17 -5/23/10 ›
High count of 73 Caspian terns (down from previous week), 1,680 ring-billed gulls, 920 California gulls, 3 American white pelicans, and 4 double-crested cormorants on Crump Lake tern island; terns and gulls have initiated nesting behavior (courtship, nest building, copulation) on island; no Caspian tern eggs yet seen on island
5/17 -5/23/10 ›
High count of 6 Caspian terns (down from previous week), 4 double-crested cormorants, 32 Forster’s terns, 7 ring-billed gulls, and 2 American white pelicans on Dutchy Lake tern island; no nesting behaviors observed
5/17 -5/23/10 ›
High count of 16 Caspian terns (down from previous week), 550 ring-billed gulls, 78 California gulls, and 31 double-crested cormorants on East Link Pond tern island; Caspian terns and gulls have initiated egg-laying on island
5/20/10 ›
Survey for Caspian terns in the Williamson River Delta; 155 Caspian terns observed loafing on two islands in Williamson River Delta; nesting behaviors observed (courtship, copulation), but terns were not observed digging or sitting in nest scrapes; rising water levels in delta may soon render these islands unsuitable for tern nesting
5/20/10 ›
Survey for foraging piscivorous waterbirds conducted on Drews Reservoir and Dog Lake; 28 Caspian terns and 20 American white pelicans observed along shores of Drews Reservoir and 10 American white pelicans observed at Dog Lake
5/18 - 5/20/10 ›
Surveys for foraging piscivorous waterbirds conducted in Goose Lake; ca. 160 gulls and 10 Forster’s terns observed shores of lake; no Caspian terns observed
5/19/10 ›
Survey for foraging piscivorous waterbirds conducted in Warner Valley, OR; of the 10 lakes surveyed (Hart Lake, Anderson Lake, Swamp Lake, Mugwump Lake, Flagstaff Lake, Campbell Lake, Upper Campbell Lake, Stone Coral Lake, Turpin Lake, and Blue Joint Lake), all but one (Hart Lake) were dry; 25 American white pelicans and 7 gulls observed on Hart Lake
5/19/10 ›
First Caspian tern egg observed on Sheepy Lake floating tern island, Lower Klamath NWR
5/19/10 ›
Seven Caspian terns loafing on Tule Lake (Sump 1B) tern island; nesting dissuasion (human disturbance) used to discourage nesting by Caspian terns on Tule Lake tern island; island expected to be land-bridged soon, providing access by mammalian predators; nesting dissuasion is intended to encourage terns to nest elsewhere, where prospects for successful nesting are greater
5/18/10 ›
Survey of Pelican Lake (near Adel, OR); 91 American white pelicans, 11 great blue herons, 25 great egrets, and ca. 100 gulls (spp.) counted on island in lake; all species have initiated nesting
Weekly Update for 5/10 - 5/16/2010
5/16/10 ›
Nesting dissuasion (human disturbance) used to discourage nesting by Caspian terns on Sump 1B tern island in Tule Lake; island is expected to be land bridged soon, providing access to the island by mammalian predators; nesting dissuasion is being implemented to encourage terns in to nest elsewhere, where prospects for successfully raising young are greater
5/10 -5/16/10 ›
High count of 209 Caspian terns, 1,778 gull spp., 23 American white pelicans, 2 Franklin’s gulls, and one Forster’s tern on Crump Lake tern island; terns and gulls have initiated nesting behavior (courtship, nest building, copulation) on island; no Caspian tern eggs seen on island yet
5/10 -5/16/10 ›
High count of 12 Caspian terns, 11 double-crested cormorants, 8 Forster’s terns, 2 ring-billed gulls and one killdeer on Dutchy Lake tern island; no nesting behaviors observed
5/10 -5/16/10 ›
High count of 30 Caspian terns, 601 ring-billed gulls, and 80 California gulls on East Link Pond tern island; terns and gulls have initiated egg-laying on island
5/10 -5/16/10 ›
High count of 22 Caspian terns, 540 ring-billed gulls, 273 California gulls, and 87 Forster’s terns on Sheepy Lake tern island; Caspian terns and Forster’s terns have initiated nesting behavior (courtship, nest building, copulation), but no tern eggs laid so far on island; both ring-billed and California gulls have initiated egg laying on island
5/14 – 5/15/10 ›
Survey for piscivorous waterbirds in Clear Lake Reservoir; American white pelicans nesting at two locations in Clear Lake Reservoir; no large foraging aggregations of piscivorous waterbirds observed
5/14/10 ›
First gull eggs observed on Sheepy Lake floating tern island, Lower Klamath NWR
5/14/10 ›
First Caspian terns (40) observed loafing on the Sump 1B tern island, Tule Lake NWR
5/12/10 ›
Survey of Pelican Island (near Adel, OR); 81 American white pelicans, 16 great blue herons, 20 great egrets, and 98 gull sp. counted on island; all species have initiated nesting on the island
5/12/10 ›
A coyote observed on a levee roughly 200 meters from the East Link Pond tern island
5/10/10 ›
First Caspian tern egg observed on East Link Pond tern island
5/10/10 ›
Strong winds and heavy snow at Sheepy Lake tern island
Weekly Update for 5/3 – 5/9/2010
5/3 -5/9/10 ›
High count of 122 Caspian terns, 1,684 gull spp., and 2 American white pelicans on Crump Lake tern island; terns and gulls have initiated nesting behavior (courtship, nest building, copulation) on island
5/3 -5/9/10 ›
High count of 5 Caspian terns, 16 double-crested cormorants, 4 Forster’s terns, and 2 ring-billed gulls on Dutchy Lake tern island; no nesting behaviors observed
5/3 -5/9/10 ›
High count of 42 Caspian terns, 350 ring-billed gulls, 55 California gulls, and 19 double-crested cormorants on East Link tern island; terns and gulls have initiated nesting behavior (courtship, nest building, copulation) on island
5/3 -5/9/10 ›
High count of 41 Caspian terns, 156 ring-billed gulls, 160 California gulls, and 86 Forster’s terns on Sheepy Lake tern island; Caspian terns, Forster’s terns, and gulls have initiated nesting behavior (courtship, nest building, copulation) on island
5/7/10 ›
Road-based survey for piscivorous waterbirds in Upper Klamath Basin; 98 Caspian terns observed loafing on two islands in Williamson River Delta - nesting behaviors not observed but apparently suitable tern nesting habitat available in area; 104 Caspian terns observed loafing near newly constructed tern island in Tule Lake Sump 1B, but none on the island; double-crested cormorants nesting (55 individuals and 17 nests) on a single snag on Hyatt Lake
Weekly Update for 4/26 – 5/2/2010
4/26 -5/2/10 ›
High count of 25 Caspian terns, 362 ring-billed gulls, 32 California gulls, and 13 American white pelicans on Crump Lake tern island; terns and gulls have initiated nesting behavior (courtship, nest building, copulation) on island
4/26 -5/2/10 ›
High count of 10 Caspian terns, 202 ring-billed gulls, 51 California gulls, and 10 double-crested cormorants on East Link Pond tern island; terns and gulls have initiated nesting behavior (courtship, nest building, copulation) on island
4/26 -5/2/10 ›
High count of one Caspian tern on Dutchy Lake tern island; visits to this site limited due to strong winds
4/26 -5/2/10 ›
High count of 21 Caspian terns, 135 ring-billed gulls, 71 California gulls, and 30 Forster’s terns on Sheepy Lake tern island; Caspian terns, Forster’s terns, and gulls have initiated nesting behavior (courtship, nest building, copulation) on island
5/1/10 ›
First road-based survey conducted in Upper Klamath Basin looking for foraging piscivorous waterbirds
4/28 – 4/29/10 ›
Assisted ODFW with fish trapping in Crump Lake; tui chub, black crappie, white crappie, brown bullhead, and Warner suckers captured and released (suckers were PIT-tagged)
4/27/10 ›
First road survey of Albert Lake near Valley Falls, OR; 11 American white pelicans and 7 gulls counted; no Caspian terns or double-crested cormorants observed
4/26/010 ›
First Caspian terns (25) observed on Crump Lake tern island; 362 ring-billed gulls and 32 California gulls also counted on the island
Weekly Update for 4/19 – 4/25/2010
4/19 - 4/25/10 ›
High count of 14 Caspian terns, 70 ring-billed gulls, 12 California gulls, and 13 Forster’s terns on Sheepy Lake tern island, Lower Klamath NWR
4/23/10 ›
Rick Jensen assisted with re-building of experimental cormorant social attraction nesting platform on Dutchy Lake, Summer Lake Wildlife Area; cormorant decoys and audio playback systems installed on platform; preparations for monitoring possible double-crested cormorant nesting at Dutchy Lake nesting platform completed
4/22/10 ›
First aerial survey of Upper Klamath Basin; checked sites of piscivorous waterbird colonies in Upper Klamath Lake to determine occupancy (4 of 10 known colony locations occupied by nesting American white pelicans and/or double-crested cormorants); checked sites of American white pelican colonies in Clear Lake to determine occupancy (3 incipient pelican colonies observed on Bird Island, a small unnamed island 200 meters west of Bird island, and Last Resort Island); checked site on Sheepy Lake where American white pelicans and double-crested cormorants have nested in previous years, about 520 pelicans and 125 cormorants were present; checked newly constructed tern islands for the presence of piscivorous waterbirds (10 loafing gulls seen on the Tule Lake Sump 1B tern island, which was not yet land-bridged; no birds seen on Orems Unit tern island, which was not surrounded by water; 5 Caspian terns and 75 gulls seen on the Sheepy Lake tern island); no aggregations of piscivorous waterbirds observed at any of four Upper Klamath Lake spawning sites for ESA-listed suckers
4/20 – 4/21/10 ›
Winter storm advisory in effect at Crump, Summer, and Sheepy lakes bringing strong winds, heavy rain, hail, and snow
4/20/10 ›
First Caspian terns (4) observed on Dutchy Lake floating tern island
4/19/10 ›
First Caspian terns (4) observed on East Link Pond tern island; ˜300 ring-billed gulls and ˜100 California gulls also counted on the island during the week
4/19/10 ›
Wes Messinger (USACE) assisted with vegetation removal on the East Link Pond and Dutchy Lake tern islands, Summer Lake Wildlife Area
Weekly Update for 4/12 – 4/18/2010
4/16/10 ›
Audio playback systems and video monitoring system installed at East Link tern island, Summer Lake Wildlife Area; preparations for monitoring Caspian terns nesting at East Link tern island completed
4/15/10 ›
First Caspian tern sighted at Summer Lake Wildlife Area by project staff in 2010; one tern with fish in its bill seen flying over Dutchy Lake tern island
4/15/10 ›
Caspian tern decoys, audio playback systems, and video monitoring system installed at Dutchy Lake tern island, Summer Lake Wildlife Area; preparations for monitoring Caspian terns nesting at Dutchy Lake tern island completed
4/15/10 ›
Experimental cormorant social attraction nesting platform assembled and anchored in the southwestern corner of Dutchy Lake, Summer Lake Wildlife Area
4/14/10 ›
First double-crested cormorants sighted at Summer Lake Wildlife Area by project staff in 2010; 24 cormorants roosting on Dutchy Lake tern island
4/14/10 ›
Seasonal field crew began work at Summer Lake Wildlife Area
4/13/10 ›
Preparations for monitoring Caspian tern colony at Crump Lake tern island completed
4/12/10 ›
Seasonal field crew began work at Crump Lake, Warner Valley, OR
Weekly Update for 4/5 – 4/11/2010
4/11/10 ›
Caspian tern decoys and audio playback systems installed on floating tern island at Sheepy Lake, Lower Klamath NWR; preparations for monitoring Caspian terns at Sheepy Lake tern island completed
4/11/10 ›
First Caspian tern (1) observed on Sheepy Lake tern island, Lower Klamath NWR
4/10/10 ›
First Caspian tern sighted at Lower Klamath NWR by project staff in 2010; one tern foraging near Sheepy Lake tern Island
4/10/10 ›
Seasonal field crew began work at Lower Klamath NWR
4/9/10 ›
River otter and various raptors (i.e., peregrine falcon, bald eagle, short-eared owl, and northern harrier) observed near Sheepy Lake tern island; depredated goose discovered on Sheepy Lake tern island, Lower Klamath NWR
Weekly Update for 3/29 – 4/4/2010
3/29/10 ›
First Caspian tern sighted at Fern Ridge Reservoir by project staff in 2010; one tern captured on video while on Fern Ridge tern island
WEEKLY Update FOR 3/22 – 3/28/2010
3/24/10 ›
Video monitoring system installed at Sheepy Lake tern island, Lower Klamath NWR
3/23/10 ›
PIT tags spread on Sheepy Lake tern island for sucker PIT tag detection efficiency study, Lower Klamath NWR
WEEKLY Update FOR 3/15 – 3/21/2010
3/18/10 ›
Marty St. Louis (ODFW) and students from Riverdale High School in Portland, OR assisted with vegetation removal and placement of Caspian tern decoys on the East Link tern island, Summer Lake Wildlife Area
WEEKLY Update FOR 3/8 – 3/14/2010
3/12/10 ›
PIT tags spread on piscivorous waterbird colonies at Clear Lake, CA for sucker PIT tag detection efficiency studies, Clear Lake NWR, CA
3/10/10 ›
Corps of Engineers and Floating Islands West completed construction of 0.8-acre floating island on Sheepy Lake for Caspian tern nesting at Lower Klamath NWR
3/10/10 ›
Caspian tern decoys, audio playback systems, and video monitoring system installed on tern island at Fern Ridge Reservoir; preparations for monitoring tern use on Fern Ridge tern island completed
