Caspian Terns photo: Joe Meche
In 2009, Caspian terns starting nesting on the former Georgia-Pacific property now called the Waterfront District. Approximately 250 birds produced about 100 chicks. The next year, between 2,500 and 3,000 birds produced over 1,000 young terns. The Port of Bellingham was able to prevent the birds from reestablishing a nesting colony in 2011.
To read my five columns about the nesting colony (August 2010, September 2010, October-November 2010, March 2011 and August 2011), go to: http://www.whatcomwatch.org/php/search.php. In the search box, type “Caspian terns” and, from the pull-down menu, select “Text.” You cannot find the articles using “Search” at our current website. The “Search” program begins with the October-November 2015 issue.
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Joe Meche is a past president of the North Cascades Audubon Society and was a member of the board of directors for 20 years. He has been watching birds for more than 60 years and photographing birds and landscapes for more than 40 years. He has written over 200 columns for Whatcom Watch.
