Caspian Terns in Bellingham

Joe Meche is president of the North Cascades Audubon Society and also serves the chapter as newsletter editor and birding programs coordinator. He has been watching birds for more than 50 years and photographing birds and landscapes for more than 30 years. He has written more than 100 articles for Whatcom Watch.

By now, you’ve heard about the phenomenal event that took place on the Bellingham waterfront in 2010. The first hint of things to come was the year prior, in 2009, when approximately 250 Caspian terns discovered the southwest corner of the old pulp mill site, which turned out to be prime nesting habitat for these magnificent birds. Old buildings had been demolished and leveled with most of the area cleared and graded to the point where the site resembled the terns’ perfect setting for raising a family — a large, open expanse with good visibility for 360 degrees and nearby sources of food. As many as 50 chicks fledged from the new Bellingham colony that first year.

From the initial breeding success at a brand new site, word apparently spread throughout the Pacific Coast population of Caspian terns that a safe haven for nesting had been found. After the first sighting of a single tern over north Bellingham Bay on April 11, the numbers increased substantially through May and into June. By the time the first 30 chicks were observed on June 17, the number of adults on the site had risen to almost 1,000 individuals.

The numbers of both adults and chicks increased steadily through the summer months and reached a high of almost 3,000 adults and as many as 1,000 chicks on site on July 14. The high numbers remained relatively steady into August and didn’t show any signs of lessening until mid-month. After the peak numbers and with so many chicks beginning to fledge, the numbers decreased into the fall and in late September, the total number of birds was down to 50.

The significance of this colony in the overall scheme of the Pacific Coast population of Caspian terns became apparent to two groups studying the terns — Oregon State University and Bird Research Northwest. After several visits by a field tech to assess the status of the colony, it was decided that a chick banding was in order. On July 30, a total of 252 chicks were banded and released back into the colony. No eggs or chicks were lost due to the activities of humans during the banding.

Adding to the significance of the Bellingham site was the collapse of the large nesting colony on the Dungeness Spit, near Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula. Predation by coyotes and bald eagles put enough pressure on the terns at Dungeness that they all dispersed to new sites, one of which turned out to be right here, just a couple of blocks from the city center. Again, the word was spread through some unknown avian hotline that life was good on the Bellingham waterfront. By reading colored leg bands, researchers were able to trace individual birds back to several of the Pacific population’s colony sites, including one bird from the colony on Brooks Island in San Francisco Bay.

As you might expect, the scintillating chaos of a large colony of nesting Caspian terns became the talk of several towns among the bird watching and nature loving crowds in the Northwest. After numerous postings on three separate listservs, I received at least three dozen requests for information on how and where to view the colony. Due to the fact that access to the area is restricted, folks had to be content to enjoy the colony from afar.

With the ever-expanding population of chicks, however, adult terns were constantly coming and going from the site and provided ample viewing opportunities all along the bay shoreline. The terns became quite the spectacle through the summer and were the topic of many conversations, which were at once educational and inspiring. Quite a few people from other towns and cities in the Northwest discovered Bellingham for the first time due to this new roadside attraction. One individual said that he and his wife had passed through before on the way to Vancouver, B.C. but had never stopped here. They got off the interstate this time, specifically to see the terns, but they also had two meals here and even bought a few items at the Greenhouse.

Fast forward through summer and into late September and the old buildings are shrouded in fog, while the last remaining adult terns wait patiently for their offspring to find their wings. Since the site more or less evolved through June and July, some of the late arrivals laid eggs well into August. Overall, given the large number of birds on the site, the mortality rate was low and predation was at a minimum. Conditions were ideal for the terns and those of us who enjoyed the birds were left to see what 2011 would bring. And this is where the Port of Bellingham steps in.

The port has decided that it does not want the terns on any part of the property and it plans to take measures to discourage a repeat of last year’s spectacle. The terns do not figure into any part of the comprehensive plan to develop the waterfront site; although, the opportunity does exist to find a compromise and make the terns and other wildlife a living, breathing part of the overall picture, should the port choose to do so.

Statistics worldwide show the broad appeal and economic benefits of ecotourism. Nature enthusiasts want to travel to places where they can view wildlife in a natural setting. While zoos have their place and purpose, nothing comes close to observing a large colony of nesting birds, unaffected by human activity. This is what took place on the Bellingham waterfront last summer, and it would be easy enough for the port to modify its plan ever so slightly and reconsider its stance.

Bellingham and Whatcom County have a long history of close contact with wildlife and the environment and an opportunity exists here to add a jewel to Bellingham’s crown as a nature-friendly community. The pieces have fallen into place, albeit inadvertently, to utilize a small corner of this large site as a sanctuary for terns and other birds that might find it appealing. This would fit in perfectly with the planned shoreline trail that will eventually connect downtown with the South Bay Trail to Fairhaven.

Imagine a small fenced-off area set aside for terns and other nesting birds on the waterfront, with monitored viewing points on the perimeter. And while you’re at it, imagine an annual Caspian tern festival in the spring to celebrate the world’s largest tern species. Setting aside a small area would limit the number of terns that would utilize the site for nesting, dispelling some concerns about problems associated with overcrowding.

Caspian terns have been kicked around up and down the coast and evicted from numerous colony sites for years. Humans have turned this majestic bird into yet another scapegoat to compensate for our own mistakes. Why can’t we consider sharing a small piece of the rock with them, right here in Bellingham? §