Sandwich Tern at Ocean City on 6/28. Audubon's offshore.

Dma3@aol.com
Sun, 28 Jun 1998 15:24:12 EDT


     One adult Sandwich Tern was on the 4th Street flats (or Skimmer Island)
on the morning of 6/28. It was in the dense group of nesting Royals at the
south end of the island, best seen from the Rt 50 bridge. There was no
evidence of a mate or a nest.

     There were at least 7 Great Black-backed Gull chicks being fed by adults
on the island, and the number of Herring Gull chicks is now probably over 100.
The change over the past several years, since Herrings began nesting on the
island is quite noticeable. Royal Terns, Skimmers, and Common Terns all had
chicks, but numbers of all three species are way down, with Commons being the
worst hit. While this change may be due to poorer feeding conditions for the
terns, or other variables, I attribute much of the problem to first the
Herring, and now the Great Black-backed Gulls. I like gulls more than most,
but think that some careful efforts should be made to discourage/limit gull
nesting on this island, which has become so important for terns. Does anyone
know what, if anything, DNR is trying at this point?

Two Audubon's Shearwater's were seen from the "Miss Ocean City", approx. 8
miles offshore on the afternoon trip of 6/26.  This boat goes out everyday 7am
-noon and 1pm to 5pm for deep sea fishing, but some trips are privately
booked.  Friday's afternoon trip had only fifteen+ people, while the Saturday
trips are usually packed with capacity numbers of 50+.  The cost of the 1/2
day trip was $20.  The "Ocean City Princess" goes out from 7am to 2pm and has
most recently been going to Virginia waters off Chincoteague.

One Piping Plover was seen approx. 1 mile north of the Maryland Assateague
State Park.  It was near a nest cage, which DNR is erecting to protect these
birds.  The state park does not open until 9am and this is the closest parking
for a walk up the beach.

Dave Czaplak
Mary Ann Todd